Justice Manik tasked with criminal cases

Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain yesterday changed the jurisdictions of several High Court judges, including Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, following appointment of six new judges.
The new judges are Justice ABM Altaf Hossain, Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, Justice Mahmudul Haque, Justice Badruzzaman Badal, Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Kazi M Ejarul Haque Akond (Sagar).
Justice Altaf will sit with Justice Manik to hear criminal cases. Earlier, a Supreme Court lawyer sought removal of Justice Manik through an application to President Zillur Rahman on June 5.
Justice Ashish will sit with senior Justice Tariq ul Hakim to hear cases over VAT and customs disputes, labour court appeals and bank loan disputes. Justice Mahmudul will sit with senior Justice AKM Asaduzzaman to hear criminal motions and appeals and bail petitions and jail appeals.
Justice Badruzzaman will sit with senior Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader to hear civil petitions, first appeals and disputes of over Tk 4 lakhs. Justice Zafar will sit with Justice Farid Ahmed to hear writ petitions, Anti-Corruption Commission's cases, public-interest petitions and capital-market issues.
Justice Ejarul will sit with senior Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury to settle criminal motions, appeals and related bail petitions.
The chief justice administered oath to the new judges at the Supreme Court auditorium yesterday morning.
SC Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam said the chief justice may reconstitute the jurisdictions of some HC benches after a two-week vacation from June 22.
Yesterday, the bench of Justice Manik did not hear the case over BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's birth anniversary due to the jurisdiction change.
The bench of Justice Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim had been hearing and disposing of writ petitions till June 5. As Justice Selim went on leave on June 6 due to his sickness, a single member bench of Justice Manik was disposing of civil cases from June 6.
SC lawyer Md Mozammel Haque had sought Justice Manik's removal through the Supreme Judicial Council. Justice Manik had issued rulings on a good number of public interest litigations.
On June 9, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said Mozammel's request was unexpected and illogical. The HC, on June 12, issued a contempt of court rule against Mozammel for making derogatory remarks against the judge in the application.