Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, who issued verdicts in a number of important cases including the Bangabandhu murder case, and struck down the 5th, the 7th and the 13th constitutional amendments has been made the Chairman of the Law Commission.He will succeed M Shah Alam. The Law Commission reviews and recommends amendment to the laws or enactment of new laws.
Almost all of the former chiefs of the Commission were retired chief justices. They include Justice FKMA Munim, Justice Kemal Uddin Hossain, Justice ATM Afzal and Justice Mostafa Kamal.
After Justice Md Abdur Rashid’s departure, Shah Alam has been functioning as the acting Chairman since Oct 24, 2010.
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a circular about Justice Haque’s appointment on Tuesday.
Appointed for three years, Justice Haque will enjoy the pay and perks of the Chief Justice.
He served as the Chief Justice from Sep 30, 2010 to May 17, 2011.
During his career, Justice Haque issued a verdict in the case that had led to the repeal of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
Born on May 19, 1944 in Madaripur, he obtained his Bachelor of Law from Dhaka University and did his Bar at Law from Lincoln’s Inn, London.
He enrolled at the High Court in 1976, six years after starting his legal career with the Dhaka District Judge’s Court.
Before his elevation to Bench, Haque also taught law at the Dhaka University as a part time teacher from 1978 to 1987.
He was appointed an additional judge to the High Court on Apr 27, 1998 and promoted to a full judge two years later.
Justice Haque was appointed to the Appellate Division on Jul 14, 2009 and took oath on Jul 16.
During time at the High Court, he issued verdicts in several important cases that included declaring the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution illegal, cases dealing with the proclamation of independence and its announcer, preserving independence-related memorials at the Racecourse Ground, saving four key rivers of Dhaka, shifting Dhaka’s tanneries.
At the Appellate Division, he gave verdicts in several widely discussed cases which include the one on the caretaker government and the fatwa.
He also helmed the Judicial Services Commission. – bdnews24.com
