Dhaka – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is set to deliver the verdict on the appeal against a ruling that restored the parliament’s powers to remove judges illegal, on Monday.The apex court on June 1 had fixed July 3 to pronounce the verdict after hearing the arguments submitted on behalf of the state against the relevant High Court ruling. According to the Supreme Court website, it is on the top of the Appellate Division’s agenda for Monday.
The 16th Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 2014, and that allows the parliament to remove judges on grounds of incompetence and misconduct.
In November of that year, nine Supreme Court lawyers filed a petition with the High Court challenging the legal basis of the amendment. They secured a verdict in their favour in May last year. Later, the state went to the Appellate Division challenging the High Court decision.
The appeal hearing started on May 8, and the seven-member full bench, led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha heard the arguments of both sides for 11 days.
The court also heard the opinions of 10 Supreme Court lawyers as amici curiae- ‘friends of the court’ on the matter. All of them, except one, supported the High Court ruling that found the Amendment illegal. – Special Correspondent
