16th Amendment is to remove, not impeach judges: Suranjit

The 16th Amendment to the Constitution will empower Parliament to remove judges, not impeach them, says Suranjit Sengupta.
People with vested interests were spreading 'misinformation' regarding 'impeachment', he alleged Tuesday, according to a news agency.
The 'Constitution (16th Amendment) Bill-2014, which, once passed, will restore Parliament's power to impeach Supreme Court judges, is currently being scrutinised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Sengupta heads this committee.
After a committee meeting on the issue, he told reporters that matters of removal and impeachment had got mixed up in this case.
"Vested quarters are carrying out propaganda to make it seem as if the government was passing this bill to control the court. Some responsible and experienced leaders have also joined them."
The BNP, which has been opposing the government move to amend the Constitution, alleges it is to establish complete control over the judiciary.
Suranjit Sengupta said those who were saying these remarks had ulterior political motives.
"Impeachment is out of the question. That is for the president only in case the president violates the Constitution or commits serious offence."
The first Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972 gave Parliament the jurisdiction to settle the tenure of top judges and decide about their removal.
The president was then vested with the power through the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution in 1974.
After military ruler Ziaur Rahman usurped state power, the Fourth Amendment was annulled and a Supreme Judicial Council was formed following an order to enforce the impeachment rule, which is still in effect.
The ruling Awami League is now trying to hand the power back to Parliament by amending the Constitution. For that, the parliamentary standing committee has been asked to submit its report on the planned changes by Sept 14.