Diliruzzaman removed as HC judge

Justice Khandaker Diliruz-zaman, one of the 12 High Court judges barred from judicial duties since October 20 last year, has been removed from office.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin removed him on May 21 under Article 96(6) of the Constitution, following a recommendation from the Supreme Judicial Council.

The Supreme Court issued an online notification yesterday in this regard, but did not mention any reason for the removal.

Earlier, on March 18, the president removed Justice Khizir Hayat, another HC judge, based on a similar recommendation from the council.

These actions followed mass protests on the Supreme Court premises on October 16, where hundreds of demonstrators -- mostly students -- demanded the removal of "pro-Awami League fascist judges".

The 12 judges barred from judicial duty are Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif, Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, Justice Khizir Hayat, Justice SM Maniruzzaman, Justice Diliruzzaman, Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, Justice Shahed Nuruddin, Justice Md Aminul Islam, and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon.

Among them, Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das have retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 67.

Justice Shahed Nuruddin resigned in February, citing personal reasons.

Justice Md Aminul Islam and Justice Masud Hossain Dolon are no longer in service, as they were not confirmed as High Court judges.

The Supreme Judicial Council, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, has been conducting inquiries into some of these judges, according to Supreme Court sources.

Diliruzzaman was appointed as an additional judge on May 31, 2018, and confirmed as a regular judge on May 30, 2020. He had been leading a judicial commission investigating the deaths during the July uprising last year, including that of Abu Sayeed. The interim government later scrapped the commission.