The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Thursday ordered reinstatement of its 10 judges removed six years ago despite successful completion of their provisional period.

A larger bench comprising Justice MA Rashid, Justice SK Sinha and Justice Nazmun-ara-Sultana issued the order on separate writ petitions by 10 of the 15 judges who challenged the government decision on the removal.

They will be reinstated as permanent judges and their seniority will be calculated from the day they were terminated," petitioners counsel Barrister Amir-ul-Islam told reporters quoting the verdict.

According to the verdict the six-year period, however, would be considered as "general leave without pay.

Fifteen judges were appointed as additional judge of the High Court Division on May 28, 2000. But the then BNP-led four party alliance government declined to "confirm" them as permanent judges.

Ten of them filed separate writ petitions on February 4, 2003 challenging their termination. The rest five did not file any writ and one of them died later.

Earlier, on May 4, 2003 a High Court Division bench had asked concerned authorities to show cause why the decision of termination would not be declared illegal and without lawful authority.

The reinstated judges are Abdus Salam, Momtaz Uddin, Shamsul Huda, Faruk Ahmed, Hasan Faiz Siddiqui, Abdul Hye, Abdur Razzak, Marjeul Haque, Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Nizamul Haque.

Senior advocates Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Amir-ul-Islam and Ajmamul Hossain QC appeared for the petitioners.