Sinha prays at city temple, Anisul visits him

The Dhakeshwari temple's manager Tapan Bhattacharya said Thursday Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha came to the temple and prayed, report agencies.

"Sinha came to the temple with his wife to offer prayers. He stayed for about 20 minutes", the temple manager said.

Sinha then spent some time in the temple's office room on the first floor, joined by senior lawyers Rana Dasgupta and Subrata Chowdhury.

When asked by reporters about whether the chief justice appeared ill, Dasgupta said, "He did not look like that way to me."

Acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah on Thursday said he had enquired about the health condition of Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha as he is now at his official residence.

Wahhab Miah came up with the information when senior lawyers of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) placed a petition before him asking about Surendra Sinha's health condition.

Following the petition placed by SCBA President Advocate Zainul Abedin, the acting Chief Justice has requested them to meet the Chief Justice at his chamber citing that it is not a matter of court.

The acting Chief Justice, now leading the five-member Appellate Division bench, said, "We're bound by law. We came to know that the CJ has gone on leave due to his illness. So, as the senior most, I'm discharging the duty."

Former president of SCBA Barrister Moinul Hossain, adv Khandaker Mahbub Hossian, AJ Mohammad Ali, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former justice Khademul Islam, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, adv Subrata Chowdhury and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon were, among others, present.

Law Ministry spokesperson Dr Md Rezaul Karim confirmed the news that he visited Thursday Chief Justice.

Anisul's motorcade entered Chief Justice's official Hare Road residence at around 4pm and left 35 minutes later.

The law minister's visit came a day after his official press briefing, where he said the chief justice is on a month-leave over health ground and urged everyone not to politicizing the matter.

Anisul at the briefing on Wednesday had said he is in regular contact with the physician taking care of Justice Sinha and will surely visit him once the doctor gives green signal.

Earlier on the day, the law minister made a courtesy call on acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah at his chamber at the Supreme Court.