Govt: CJ Sinha wasn’t pressured to take leave

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has gone on his one-month leave to address his ailments, including cancer treatment, and there was no external pressure on him, say the law minister and the attorney general. Both of them on Tuesday refuted assumptions among different quarters that the chief justice’s sudden decision to go on such long vacation could be related to the recent wave of strong criticisms from Awami League leaders over the scrapping of the 16th Amendment to the constitution. The chief justice’s leave on health grounds until November 1 started on Tuesday. Law Minister Anisul Huq said Chief Justice Sinha was suffering from different diseases including cancer, for which he is still receiving treatment. “That is why he decided to take the leave and get some rest. The allegations of pressurising him are totally baseless.” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam also echoed the minister’s claims. “He [CJ Sinha] received such treatment for cancer before,” he said. Asked whether the chief justice’s leave would affect the trial proceedings in court, Mahbubey Alam said: “The judiciary will continue to work just fine. Absence of one or two judges never hindered the proceedings before.” Ruling party lawmakers have been demanding Chief Justice Sinha’s resignation since he led the Appellate Division in July into scrapping the 16th constitutional amendment, which had empowered parliament to impeach judges on grounds of inefficiency and misconduct. Meanwhile, leaders of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), which is led largely by pro-BNP lawyers, following a meeting on Tuesday issued a statement, saying that the chief justice was forced to take the medical leave. SCBA President Zainul Abedin also told reporters: “Everyone knows that a particular political party and the government put immense pressure on the chief justice in different ways following a verdict. We think he was sent on leave as part of that pressure.” However, about the SCBA claim, the attorney general told reporters that the association was trying to tarnish the judiciary’s reputation. “The SCBA is controlled by a certain political party and they have been using this matter as a political tool. Their claims have no credibility. Several other parties have also been trying to gain politically over this,” he said.

‘Leave and amendment verdict not related’

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday also told reporters that there was no nexus between the 16th Amendment verdict and the chief justice’s leave. “Those trying to connect these matters have ill intentions,” he said, adding that he hoped Chief Justice Sinha would resume work after his vacation period was over. Meanwhile, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, responding to a query, told reporters at his office that he had not contacted the chief justice before he decided to go on the leave. Asked whether he would go to meet the ailing chief justice now, he said: “Maybe … if needed. But I will not forcefully visit him if he does not want to see me. Also, I am not supposed to know his whereabouts always.”

Justice Wahhab made acting CJ

Following a Law Ministry gazette notification issued on Monday night, senior judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah started discharging duties as the acting chief justice on Tuesday. Justice Miah and four other judges heard several cases starting from 9am. Later, he and the judges from both Appellate and High Court divisions held a courtesy meeting with the lawyers later in the morning. A full court meeting of all judges from both divisions was also held in the afternoon. At that meeting, Justice Miah urged the judges to discharge their duties properly, announce and write verdicts in time. A decision was also taken not to reconstitute the benches. They will be the same as they were before autumn vacation.