Tac exemption: ACC gets SC permission to file appeal

The Supreme Court on Monday gave permission to Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to file an appeal with the Appellate Division against a High Court order declaring illegal the reopening of inquiry into the alleged corruption of those who were exempted by the now defunct Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) in 2008. A 4-member bench, headed by Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain, passed the order after granting leave-to-appeal petitions filed by the ACC. ACC lawyer Nahid Mahtab said the court asked them to submit the appeal summary within 4 weeks. He said now the Appellate Division will hear whether the ACC can probe illegal wealth of those who were exempted by the TAC and whether it can serve them notice to submit their wealth information. On July 3, 2008, the caretaker government promulgated the Voluntary Disclosure of Information Ordinance-2008 under which the TAC was formed for voluntary disclosure of corruption. Following a writ petition, the HC on November 13, 2008, declared the commission illegal and unconstitutional. The Appellate Division upheld the HC verdict on May 16, 2011. Later, the ACC served notices on those who were exempted by the TAC to submit their fresh wealth statements whereby they moved the HC challenging the legality of the notices. After hearing some 30-32 writ petitions, the HC in March, 2012, declared the ACC notices illegal. In April 2013, the ACC filed separate leave-to-appeal petitions against the HC verdict, according to UNB.