By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh yesterday upheld a presidential decision of removing additional judge of the high court Syed Shahidur Rahman.
A four-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order upon hearing a public interest litigation.
The then president Iajuddin Ahmed, acting upon Supreme Judicial Council’s recommendations, removed the judge in April 2004 over the allegations of bail fixing.
On February 3, 2005, the high court declared illegal the president’s decision for removing the additional judge from his office.
Then, lawyer Idrisur Rahman filed an appeal as a public interest litigation with the top court challenging the verdict.
Allegations of bail fixing against Rahman were raised by Supreme Court Bar Association president Rokanuddin Mahmud at a lawyers’ meeting in October 2003, six months within Rahman’s appointment as an
additional judge to the high court.
Mahmud alleged that the appointment was made on political considerations, ignoring the question of efficiency and
integrity of the person.
As the allegations against a sitting judge of the high court were serious in nature, the Supreme Judicial Council took up the matter for investigation and submitted a report to the
president.
The president, acting upon the report, removed the judge.
Kamal Hossain stood for petitioner Idrisur Rahman while additional attorney general Murad Reza represented the state.