CJ's rejoining 'a far cry'

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam has once again stated that Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha's rejoining the office of chief justice after his coming home from abroad is “a far cry”.

“I have said on the first day that his [SK Sinha] rejoining the office of chief justice is a far cry. I am reiterating this today because how would the chief justice discharge the judicial duties if other judges [of the Appellate Division] do not want to sit with him?” he said yesterday.

He made the remark while speaking at a press briefing at his Supreme Court office.

Justice Sinha faced sharp criticism from a number of senior ministers and Awami League leaders over the 16th amendment verdict scrapping the constitutional amendment that had empowered the parliament to remove SC judges for misconduct or incapacity.

Amid the criticism, on October 3 the chief justice went on a month's leave on health grounds. He left for Australia 10 days later. Later on, his leave was extended to November 10.

Replying to a question asking whether the CJ will return after leave, the AG said, “I don't know what he will do. It's up to him [CJ] -- whether he will extend his leave or will return home.”

Responding to another query, the top law officer of the country said, “There is no relation between the filing of our review petition and his [CJ's] returning to the country.”

He said they were scrutinising the entire verdict thoroughly and going to seek review of the verdict that scrapped the 16th amendment to the constitution.

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said they would seek review for the whole verdict within this month.

The prime minister and many senior ministers denounced the chief justice over the release of the verdict's full text on August 1. Many of them also called for his resignation.

Several pro-AL organisations, including Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad, staged protests against the CJ. The parishad leaders threatened to launch a tougher agitation if the CJ did not step down.