CJ sends 12 judges appointed during AL govt on leave
The 12 High Court judges will not be assigned benches and therefore will not participate in judicial activities when the court reopens on 20 October, SC Registrar General Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan says
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has reportedly sent on leave 12 judges, who were appointed during the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government's tenure.
The chief justice, earlier, invited 12 such judges over for tea this afternoon (16 October).
"They were informed about the leave by the chief justice," Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan, registrar general of the Supreme Court, said in front of protesting students at the Supreme Court premises.
"The 12 High Court judges will not be assigned benches and therefore will not participate in judicial activities when the court reopens on 20 October," he added.
Following the announcement, the students decided to postpone their protests until Sunday.
The judges are Justice SM Moniruzzaman, Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, Justice Shahed Md Nooruddin, Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon and Justice Amirul Islam, Justice Naima Haider, Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Justice Ataur Rahman Khan and Justice Khizr Hayat.
The registrar general also clarified that while students had called for the resignation or removal of certain judges, there is currently no specific law in Bangladesh that outlines the procedure for removing judges from their positions.
"A previous government had attempted to introduce such a law but it was struck down by the Supreme Court. The government has since filed a review petition, which is scheduled to be heard on 20 October," he said.
However, no official announcement has been made from the chief justice's office.
According to the Supreme Court administration sources, there are allegations of corruption and irregularities against the 12 judges. They are also alleged to have worked as allies of the former Awami League government.
Various organisations have been demanding the resignation of Awami League-backed judges who were appointed in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court during the Awami League government. Apart from this, ordinary lawyers have been demanding the resignation of these politically motivated judges.
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, pro-BNP lawyers have been holding various programmes demanding the resignation of at least 30 judges of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, students hold a siege of the High Court today demanding the resignation of the politically motivated judges.