Pointing out the health condition of Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq on Wednesday said there is no scope for politicising his leave of absence.
Speaking to reporters at his office on Wednesday, Anisul Huq said: “Illness is a personal matter of an individual, and politics has nothing to do with this issue.”
The minister also termed as unfortunate the BNP’s claim that the chief justice was forced to go on leave.
When asked about the current condition of the chief justice, Anisul Huq told reporters: “As far as I know, he is staying in his residence and he is ill. A doctor went to visit him at his residence on Tuesday and is scheduled to visit him on Wednesday as well.”
Replying to another query as to why no one on behalf of the government visited the “ailing” chief justice, the minister said: "I will definitely visit him when I am in a position to do so. A cancer patient needs time to recuperate, and we all know this."
The minister then read out the letter that the chief justice had sent to the president about his leave of absence.
Also Read: What the chief justice wrote in his leave application
Responding to a query about the chief justice's absence during a Supreme Court programme that was held on Tuesday, Anisul said: “Is it my responsibility to explain the matter? Please tell me, did the government made any obstruction to the programme?”
The minister further added: “After knowing about the illness and the leave of the chief justice, the government took the constitutional step to appoint an acting chief justice, as the post should not remain vacant.”
He also urged everyone to pray for the speedy recovery of the chief justice.
Anisul Huq has vehemently denied the allegations that the chief justice is under house arrest.
"I do not want to make further speculations about the situation, and I hope his health will not deteriorate so much that he will have to resign. I am optimistic that the chief justice will recuperate," he added.
Commenting on the chief justice's role in war crimes cases, the minister said: "It is clearly stated in Section 97 of the constitution that the senior-most judge of the Appellate Division should be appointed as the chief justice. It is mentioned nowhere in the constitution that a controversial person shouldn't be appointed the chief justice."
Law Minister Anisul Haque then thanked the chief justice for informing the president about his illness and leave of absence.
