UNB, Dhaka :The High Court will pass its order on a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the much-talked-about 16th Constitution amendment establishing Parliament’s power to remove the Supreme Court judges on Thursday.Earlier, on March 10, a three-member special HC bench, headed by Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, fixed the date on completion of hearing. The two other judges of the bench are Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal. Meanwhile, the Cabinet on May 2 approved the draft of ‘The Supreme Court Judges (Investigation) Bill, 2016’ having provisions to investigate the allegation of ‘misconduct’ by the judges of the High Court and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and impeach them by parliament. On September 17, 2014, Parliament passed the ‘Constitution (16th Amendment) Bill, 2014’ without any opposition, empowering Parliament to remove the Supreme Court judges for their incapacity and misconduct.Nine Supreme Court lawyers filed the writ petition with the High Court on November 5, 2014, praying to consider the 16th constitution amendment as illegal and unconstitutional. The petition also sought an order staying the operation of the 16th amendment and also against enacting any law in a bid to remove the Supreme Court judges, as per this amendment, until disposal of the rule.
