The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed applications for leave-to-appeal against the High Court orders that had rejected two writ petitions filed seeking its directives for regularisation of the service of ABM Altaf Hossain, an unconfirmed judge.
The eight-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain, passed the order fixing November 26 for hearing of the appeals.On September 24, turning down the writ petitions, the High Court upheld a government decision not to confirm HC Additional Judge ABM Altaf Hossain as a regular Judge.
Meanwhile, the SC appointed a seven-member amici curiae (friends of the court) to assist the court during the hearing on the impugned High Court orders.
The amici curie are noted jurists Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister M Amir–Ul Islam, Barrister Rafique–ul Huq, former Attorney General Mahmudul Islam, former caretaker government adviser AF Hasan Ariff , Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan and Barrister Ajmalul Hossain, QC.
Bar member Altaf was among the six who were made additional judges in June, 2012 for a two-year term. Meanwhile, the government regularised the service of all but Altaf in June this year.
Supreme Court lawyer Idrisur Rahman and dropped judge Altaf filed two writ petitions challenging the government decision before the High Court but lost.- UNB
