Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has further administered oath to 18 High Court judges last night although they were already sworn in virtually earlier in the day.

The 18 HC judges, whose appointments were confirmed recently, were requested to go to the Judges' Lounge at the Supreme Court building last night for taking oath in the traditional way.

The chief justice took the oaths at his office room in the Supreme building at 9:30pm last night, Supreme Court sources said.

Judges of the Appellate Division and other judges of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court were not present during the night ceremony.   

Supreme Court Registrar General Md Ali Akbar and Supreme Court Spokesman Md Saifur Rahman could not be reached over phone for their comments in this regard despite several attempts.

Contacted, Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star last night that Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain had first administered oath to the 18 HC judges virtually as he was ill with complications from his asthma.

"The chief justice had recently been admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and was treated there for few days. He was tested for Covid-19 and the test result came negative. I have the relevant documents in my hand. Therefore, he administered the oath through virtual system. Later on, the chief justice felt better and decided to administer oath in the traditional way so that no question can be raised over the oath taking of the High Court judges," the minister said.

The law minister also said there was no illegality in virtual administration of oath to the judges.                     

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, however, told this correspondent that there is a rule under Article 148 of the constitution for the persons -- the one who administers oath and one who takes it -- to be physically present in the same time during the oath taking.

Now there is no scope for raising any questions about the 18 HC judges in this regard, he said.

Virtual oath was administered to the HC judges due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the attorney general said in reply to a question.                                       

Earlier at 3:00pm yesterday, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain administered oath to the 18 High Court judges through video conference.

Judges of both the appellate and high court divisions of the SC virtually attended the swearing-in ceremony.                                 

The 18 judges are: Justice Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar, Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, Justice Fatema Najib, Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Molla, Justice SM Kuddus Zaman, Justice Md Atowar Rahman, Justice SM Abdul Mobin, Justice  Khizir Hayat, Justice Shashanka Shekhar Sarkar, Justice Mohammad Ali, Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim, Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan, Justice Md Khairul Alam, Justice SM Moniruzzaman, Justice Ahmed Sohel, Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir, Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, and Justice KM Hafizul Alam.