Two Appellate Division judges take oath*****

Justices M Momtazuddin Ahmed and M Shamsul Huda, elevated to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, took oath of office Monday, reports UNB. Outgoing Chief Justice (CJ) ABM Khairul Haque administered them the oath at the judges' lounge at a simple ceremony. Judges of both the divisions of the Supreme Court (SC), including Chief Justice-designate M Muzammel Hosaain attended the function. On Sunday President M Zillur Rahman in exercise of his power under article 95(1) of the constitution made the appointments. As both the judges were appointed during the past Awami League (AL) rule in 1999 and 2001, they were not made regular after the BNP-Jamaat alliance government had come to power, even though they successfully completed their two-year judicial functions-a precondition for becoming a regular judge. On July 17 in 2008, a three-member larger bench of the High Court (HC) had declared illegal and unconstitutional the BNP-led alliance government's decision of non-confirmation of the services of the 10 additional judges of the HC despite positive recommendations by the then CJ.