AMN
Bangladesh Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha is believed to have been forced to go on a leave amid reports that the government was upset with him over his decision to scrap parliament’s authority in impeaching Supreme Court judges. He left for Australia last night, saying he was “embarrassed” over the controversy surrounding his July ruling. He also denied claims by the government that he was sick.
The government row with the higher judiciary sparked in July this year when the apex court delivered a verdict declaring void the 16th constitutional amendment, scrapping parliament’s authority in impeaching Supreme Court judges.
Main Opposition outside parliament Bangladesh Nationalist Party of ex-premier Khaleda Zia has supported Sinha, saying the government was trying to control the higher judiciary by launching a campaign against the apex court judgment. Sinha is Bangladesh’s first Hindu chief justice whose tenure expires in January 2018.