DHAKA: Awami League leader and veteran lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta alleged that the chief justice himself violated the oath through holding back from administering oath to two judges.

“The chief justice has violated the oath by not administering the oath to the two High Court judges,” said Sengupta, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law ministry and co-chairman of the special committee on constitutional amendment.

He came up with the comment at a publication ceremony Saturday, as government authorities move to have the two on the bench remained long stalled while the rest in a batch of 17 assistant judges were sworn in the High Court.

Jatiya Ainjibi Parishad organised the publication of an anthology of writings on ‘Recent appointment of judges: Not dispute, try to reach the truth’ at Dhaka Reporters Unity with its chairman advocate Shah Jikrul in the chair.

Suranjit Sengupta also suggested some preconditions to be set for one to become chief justice.  

The ruling-party leader said, “We presented a fair constitution in 1972. The military chiefs weakened the constitution by amending it repeatedly and we will cut all kinds of irrelevant issues out of it.”

Awami League presidium member advocate Yusuf Hosssain said, “Seventeen judges were recruited constitutionally. We want its implementation at any cost.”

On April 11, President Zillur Rahman appointed 17 additional HC judges for two years as per the constitution. But Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim administered oath to 15 on April 18, leaving out advocates Ruhul Quddus Babu and M Khasruzzaman, as reports said there were some allegations of offences against them.

BDST: 05: 36 HRS, JULY 31, 2010