Supreme Court Bar Association president AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon on Wednesday called for immediate removal of what he described as ‘controversial’ High Court judges appointed during the Awami League’s 15-year rule.
Speaking at a press conference titled ‘Reform of the Judiciary and Supreme Court Lawyers’ Observations,’ Khokon demanded the removal of those judges who, in the last 16 years, allegedly conducted judicial proceedings with political bias and became entangled in a syndicate with pro-government lawyers.
He criticised judges who, according to the SCBA, delivered politically motivated verdicts, engaged in corruption, and violated their judicial oaths.
Khokon also highlighted a deadlock in the High Court, where 60-62 judges have reportedly been deprived of the jurisdiction to hear and dispose of significant cases and have been kept under surveillance.
‘There is no scope for surveillance,’ Khokon asserted, calling for immediate action to resolve the issue.
He expressed his frustration over the lack of measures to remove such judges and questioned the inaction in addressing these concerns.
Khokon, however, acknowledged that there were many honest judges who were appointed during the AL regime.
He also underscored the need for framing rules as per the constitutional mandate to appoint new High Court judges.
Khokon further criticised the lack of progress in reforming the lower judiciary, particularly the failure to establish a Supreme Court secretariat to free the lower courts from the influence of the law ministry.
He called for the transfer of judges who allegedly granted remand and punished opposition political leaders under AL government directives.
In a significant accusation, Khokon demanded finding out telephone conversations between the former Awami League government law minister and judicial officers.
Khokon alleged that these conversations allegedly involved instructions from law ministry to lower court judges to ensure remand or convictions of opposition leaders during the past 15 years.
