The High Court on Sunday issued a rule upon the government seeking its explanation by two weeks why of the 16th amendment of the Constitution should not be declared illegal and annulled. The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed the order after hearing a writ petition lodged by nine Supreme Court lawyers including Asaduzzaman Siddique, Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan and Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury. The court, the cabinet secretary, prime minister’s office secretary, president’s office secretary, parliament secretary, and law secretary have been made respondents to the rule. Petitioners’ counsel Manzill Murshid said the bench set November 26 to pass further necessary order in this regard. Earlier on September 17, parliament passed the 16th constitutional amendment bill, that empowers lawmakers to impeach Supreme Court judges for incapacity or misconduct, and a gazette notification was issued in this regard on September 22.
