CJ Sinha asks for a month’s leave

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has written to President Abdul Hamid to take a month-long leave. The chief justice has asked for the leave on medical grounds. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq confirmed it to the Dhaka Tribune. He said the application will be sent to the prime minister's office within Monday. The PMO will then forward the letter to the president. He said: “The seat of the chief justice cannot be vacant for a single day. An acting chief justice will be   appointed as soon as possible.” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that as per the law, the next senior-most judge of the Appellate Division will be made acting chief justice. Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah will fulfil the duties. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association’s leaders went to visit the CJ’s official residence on Monday evening but failed to meet him. Bar association president Zainul Abedin said: “Staff of the residence told us that the chief justice was not willing to meet anyone.” The chief justice was scheduled to join a programme organised by the bar association on Tuesday and the lawyers’ leaders went to his residence to confirm his attendance. Zainul Abedin told reporters that such a long leave by a chief justice just before the opening of the court after a long vacation is rare in the history of the judiciary. Bar association Secretary AM Mahbubuddin Khokan said they would arrange a press meet on Tuesday morning over the issue.