Supreme Judicial Council must take action: pro-BNP lawyers
Jatiya Ainjibi Oikyafront (JAO), a forum of pro-BNP lawyers, yesterday demanded that necessary steps be taken through the Supreme Judicial Council against all kinds of corruption in the judiciary.
Comprising the chief justice and two other senior judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Judicial Council investigates allegations of misconduct of any judge and makes necessary recommendations to the president.
“We feel that besides financial corruption, if they [judges] don’t properly discharge their constitutional duties, that can also be considered corruption. If any judge delivers judgment based on directive from the government in violation of the constitutional oath, we feel that he or she is a corrupt judge,” JAO Convener Zainul Abedin said.
He was presenting a written statement at a press conference organised by JAO at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) auditorium.
“Three [High Court] judges have recently been suspended from discharging judicial work. It is not clear what the allegations against them were. Are they financially corrupt or otherwise? We don’t know. The top law officer of the country and the law minister are not clearing the matter, which is regrettable,” Advocate Zainul Abedin said.
He said the Appellate Division unanimously delivered a verdict on July 3, 2017 on the 16th amendment of the constitution, restoring the Supreme Judicial Council.
“The former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha was forced to leave the country for delivering that judgment. We will still say that the Supreme Judicial Council is still in force,” Zainul said.
He demanded making the judiciary free of corruption and formulation of a guideline for appointing judges to the High Court.
JAO will form human chains at all district bar association premises on August 28 demanding eradication of corruption and nepotism, and appointment of judges in line with the constitution, Zainul announced.
JAO Member Secretary Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, among others, spoke on the occasion.
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