President Abdul Hamid administered the oath to the newly-appointed Chief Justice at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, the president’s ofiice, at a simple ceremony at 11:05 am. Cabinet secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan moderated the oath-taking ceremony.
The senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court Appellate Division Justice Sinha, popularly known as SK Sinha, succeeded M Muzammel Hossain who went on usual retirement a day before at the age of 67.The President in exercise of his power under article 95 (1) of the Constitution made the appointment on January 12.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President’s wife Rashida Khanom, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, immediate past chief justice M Muzammel Hossain, former chief justices, cabinet members, leader of the opposition in parliament Raushon Ershad, advisers to the Prime Minister, state ministers, judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court, Attorney General, senior lawyers, Chief Election Commissioner, the chiefs of the three services were, among others, present on the occasion.
With the appointment of Justice Sinha, now 64, Bangladesh got the first-ever Chief Justice from the country’s ethic minority community Manipuri in Maulvibazar district since its independence.
The new Chief Justice will remain in office till January 31, 2018.
Justice Sinha, a chamber junior of noted jurist SR Paul, was elevated to the High Court bench from the bar on October 24, 1999 and to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on July 16, 2009.
A Chittagong University Law graduate, Sinha started his legal practice in Sylhet district court in 1974. He got enrolled in the High Court and Supreme Court as a lawyer in 1978 and 1990 respectively.
Justice Sinha is known for a number of landmark judgments, including those on the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 5th and 13th amendments to the constitution and the 1971 crimes against humanity.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Khandker Mahbub Hossain will accord a reception to the new Chief Justice on Sunday. – UNB
