Four additional judges take oath amid SCBA's protest
Friday, 5 November 2010
Four members of the Supreme Court bar, including two with alleged criminal profile, took oath as additional judges of the High Court (HC), reports UNB.
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque administered oath to the four additional judges at a ceremony at the judges' lounge, which was attended by judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court.
The persons elevated to the HC bench from the bar are: M Ruhul Quddus, M Khasruzzaman, M Nazrul Islam Talukder and Farid Ahmed.
On April 11, President M Zillur Rahman appointed 17 new additional judges of the HC, including 'controversial' advocates Ruhul Quddus and M Khasruzzaman, while M Nazrul Islam Talukder and Farid Ahmed on November 1.
On April 18, immediate-past Chief Justice M Fazlul Karim administered oath to the 15 newly-appointed additional judges, leaving out Ruhul Quddus and M Khasruzzaman apparently giving in to the demand raised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
Since their appointment, the SCBA had been accusing Advocate Ruhul Quddus and Advocate M Khasruzzaman, son-in-law of immediate past SCBA president AFM Mesbahuddin, of allegedly being a murderer and a vandal of Supreme Court respectively.
Earlier, then Chief Justice M Fazlul Karim had officially declined to administer oath to the two appointees due to 'unavoidable' circumstances.
The day's oath taking ceremony was delayed by 40 minutes, as the BNP-Jama'at leaning lawyers in association with a faction of the SCBA executives thronged in front of the judges' lounge blocking its passage to stage protest. Later, Awami League-led grand alliance lawyers rushed there to hail the oath taking ceremony.
A good number of police were seen cordoning off the area.
Meanwhile, bdnews24.com report adds: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has demanded resignation of Chief Justice (CJ) ABM Khairul Haque for administering oath to newly appointed High Court (HC) justices Ruhul Kuddus Babu and Khasruzzaman.
It also decided to boycott the two HC justices, reports bdnews24.com.
The association raised this demand in a meeting Thursday held immediately after the administration of oath at Supreme Court building.
One time student leader, Babu has a murder allegation against and his name was only recently struck from the list of the accused. Khasruzzaman is accused of taking part in vandalism in the Supreme Court area including kicking on the door of the chief justice's office during the past caretaker government.
Although both of them were later acquitted, pro-BNP lawyers have been opposing the appointments. BNP-backed lawyers dominate the bar association as they swept the association's polls several months ago.
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque has termed the role of the anti-government lawyers as 'undesired'. He said he had administered the oath in line with the Constitution.
A group of lawyers, led by SCBA President Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and General Secretary Badruddoza Badal, opposed the appointment of two of the four judges and called a protest rally at 1pm.
On the other hand the pro-Awami League office bearers, who are a minority within the bar association, greeted the four new judges.
Earlier, the two factions of the Supreme Court lawyers gathered in front of the chamber of the chief justice before he had administered the oath.
Members of the agitating anti-government lawyers' forum were removed by law enforcers from the scene. A police force has been deployed in the area.
The two other newly recruited judges who took oath Thursday were Farid Ahmed and Nazrul Islam Talukder.
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque administered oath to the four additional judges at a ceremony at the judges' lounge, which was attended by judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court.
The persons elevated to the HC bench from the bar are: M Ruhul Quddus, M Khasruzzaman, M Nazrul Islam Talukder and Farid Ahmed.
On April 11, President M Zillur Rahman appointed 17 new additional judges of the HC, including 'controversial' advocates Ruhul Quddus and M Khasruzzaman, while M Nazrul Islam Talukder and Farid Ahmed on November 1.
On April 18, immediate-past Chief Justice M Fazlul Karim administered oath to the 15 newly-appointed additional judges, leaving out Ruhul Quddus and M Khasruzzaman apparently giving in to the demand raised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
Since their appointment, the SCBA had been accusing Advocate Ruhul Quddus and Advocate M Khasruzzaman, son-in-law of immediate past SCBA president AFM Mesbahuddin, of allegedly being a murderer and a vandal of Supreme Court respectively.
Earlier, then Chief Justice M Fazlul Karim had officially declined to administer oath to the two appointees due to 'unavoidable' circumstances.
The day's oath taking ceremony was delayed by 40 minutes, as the BNP-Jama'at leaning lawyers in association with a faction of the SCBA executives thronged in front of the judges' lounge blocking its passage to stage protest. Later, Awami League-led grand alliance lawyers rushed there to hail the oath taking ceremony.
A good number of police were seen cordoning off the area.
Meanwhile, bdnews24.com report adds: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has demanded resignation of Chief Justice (CJ) ABM Khairul Haque for administering oath to newly appointed High Court (HC) justices Ruhul Kuddus Babu and Khasruzzaman.
It also decided to boycott the two HC justices, reports bdnews24.com.
The association raised this demand in a meeting Thursday held immediately after the administration of oath at Supreme Court building.
One time student leader, Babu has a murder allegation against and his name was only recently struck from the list of the accused. Khasruzzaman is accused of taking part in vandalism in the Supreme Court area including kicking on the door of the chief justice's office during the past caretaker government.
Although both of them were later acquitted, pro-BNP lawyers have been opposing the appointments. BNP-backed lawyers dominate the bar association as they swept the association's polls several months ago.
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque has termed the role of the anti-government lawyers as 'undesired'. He said he had administered the oath in line with the Constitution.
A group of lawyers, led by SCBA President Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and General Secretary Badruddoza Badal, opposed the appointment of two of the four judges and called a protest rally at 1pm.
On the other hand the pro-Awami League office bearers, who are a minority within the bar association, greeted the four new judges.
Earlier, the two factions of the Supreme Court lawyers gathered in front of the chamber of the chief justice before he had administered the oath.
Members of the agitating anti-government lawyers' forum were removed by law enforcers from the scene. A police force has been deployed in the area.
The two other newly recruited judges who took oath Thursday were Farid Ahmed and Nazrul Islam Talukder.