The High Court has issued a rule asking for explanation as to why the 16th amendment of the constitution that provided the parliament with the power to remove Supreme Court judges should not be considered illegal and unconstitutional.
An HC bench comprising Justice Mainul Islam and Justice Ashraful Kamal issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers.
Cabinet Secretary, President’s Office Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office Secretary, Parliament Secretary, and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary have been asked to explain within two weeks.
Advocate Manzill Murshid moved for the petitioners during the hearing on Sunday while Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju represented the state.
On September 17, Parliament unanimously passed the ‘Constitution (16th Amendment) Bill, 2014’ without any opposition, empowering Parliament to remove the Supreme Court judges for incapacity and misconduct.