Truth Commission illegal, confirms SC

The Supreme Court (SC) has confirmed the High Court (HC) verdict that had declared the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) illegal, reports bdnews24.com. A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by chief justice A B M Khairul Haque, dismissed Monday an appeal challenging the HC order. The petitioners' lawyer Asaduzzaman told journalists as the highest appeals court upheld the HC judgement, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) could now act against those who had been given impunity by the illegal TAC. The TAC was formed on July 3, 2008 through a presidential ordinance to exempt on condition convicts sentenced to less than two years. On August 25 the same year, SC lawyer Adilur Rahman Khan Shuvro, 'Unnayan Bikalpa Nitinirdharoni Gabeshonagar' executive director Farida Akter, Awami League's then women affairs secretary Dipu Moni and then acting director of rights body Adhikar Nasiruddin Allan challenged the commission's legality at the HC. The HC on November 13 the same year declared the commission illegal, a verdict stayed by the chamber judge of the SC on November 16 following an appeal by the then caretaker government. Later, three people, including Manjur Ahmed, an engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), who were exempted by the commission from corruption charges, appealed against the HC verdict.