SC releases full verdict of contempt ruling on 2 ministers

The Supreme Court today released a full judgment in contempt of court case against Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq saying they had violated their oaths by questioning the authority of the judiciary.

The two respondent ministers had neglected their sworn duty to protect the rule of law enshrined in the constitution, said majority of the eight-member bench of the appellate division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha.

On March 27, the SC convicted both of the ministers and fined them Tk 50,000 each for committing contempt of court by making contemptuous and derogatory comments about the chief justice.

The apex court on that day ordered them to pay the money to Islamia Eye Hospital and National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh within seven days. In case of failure, they will have to serve seven days in jail. 

This is the first time that the SC has sentenced two sitting ministers for contempt.

The JUDGEMENT

“We are in no doubt that the respondents have intentionally made the utterances as reported and have indeed expressly admitted their guilt.”

“They have acted in violation of law and are in breach of their oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. In their exuberance, they have undermined the sanctity of the institution of the judiciary by questioning the justice delivery system.” 

“The Constitution enjoins all citizens to abide by the law and makes the decisions of the Supreme Court law to be given effect to by all. The respondents have scandalized the Supreme Court in a highly motivated manner in order to influence the judgement of the Court.”

“This is gross criminal contempt and a violation of the provisions of the Constitution. The contemnors deserve no sympathy other that the lenient view taken in awarding sentence which has already been expressed in the short order passed by this Court on 27th March, 2016.”