Staff Reporter :
The two ministers-Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq-appeared before the Supreme Court on Sunday in connection with the contempt rule issued by the apex court.
The court adjourned the hearing until March 27 on the contempt rule against the ministers for their controversial comments about Chief Justice SK Sinha. The apex court also rejected the explanation made by Qamrul Islam.
A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division led by the Chief Justice fixed the fresh date after the hearing on its earlier order, which asked the ministers to appear before it on the day (yesterday) with their explanations.
Abdul Baset Mazumder stood for Quamrul Islam in the court, while Barrister Rafiqul Islam represented for Mozammel Huq.
Syed Mamun Mahbub, another lawyer of Qamrul Islam, said that the court rejected the explanation of the Food Minister, as he said that he made the comment out of
emotion as a freedom fighter. The court also asked Qamrul Islam to give the explanation again during the next hearing. The court, however, accepted explanation of Mozammel Huq partially.
During the hearing, the SC bench seriously criticised the two ministers for their comments in relation to the hearing of an appeal of war crimes convict Mir Quasem Ali. “The ministers not only undermined the Chief Justice but also dishonoured the entire judiciary by their statements,” the SC said.
SK Sinha told Abdul Baset Mazumder that the Food Minister has confessed to his guilt and questioned that by doing so whether he has violated his oath. The Chief Justice also said that, he communicated the Law Minister when he was in Nepal through the high commission office to ask the two ministers to apologise unconditionally through holding a press conference for their derogatory comments about the CJ. He also requested the Law Minister to raise the issue in the cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister scolded the two ministers in a cabinet meeting which was not enough as the ministers did not apologise through a press conference. The court is a part of the constitution not the government. Judiciary and government should have mutual respect, said the CJ.
Earlier, on March 15, the SC ordered the two ministers to appear before it on March 20. On March 14, Qamrul Islam and Mozammel Huq offered unconditional apology to the court for their remarks. They begged the pardon in separate applications submitted to the SC through their lawyers.
Qamrul Isalm also filed a petition with the SC seeking time to appear before it, as he was in Malaysia to attend a conference.
Earlier on March 8, the Supreme Court summoned the two ministers to appear before it on March 15. The court then ordered them to explain their comments before it by March 14.
During the hearing of arguments on Mir Quasem Ali’s appeal petition on February 23, the Chief Justice expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of the prosecution team and the investigation agency.
Qamrul Islam and Mozammel Huq demanded resignation of the Chief Justice for his reported comment.
During yesterday’s hearing, SK Sinha said if the chief justice could withdraw himself from the war crimes cases riot would take place in the country and the entire trial proceeding of the war crimes cases would be hampered. If the Chief Justice could be purchased at a cost of Taka one thousand crore, the four other judges cannot be purchased, he added.
The law will run on the straight way against anybody how much powerful he or she could be. This court will not hesitate to pass any order for protecting the constitution, the CJ said.
The two ministers-Food Minister Qamrul Islam and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq-appeared before the Supreme Court on Sunday in connection with the contempt rule issued by the apex court.
The court adjourned the hearing until March 27 on the contempt rule against the ministers for their controversial comments about Chief Justice SK Sinha. The apex court also rejected the explanation made by Qamrul Islam.
A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division led by the Chief Justice fixed the fresh date after the hearing on its earlier order, which asked the ministers to appear before it on the day (yesterday) with their explanations.
Abdul Baset Mazumder stood for Quamrul Islam in the court, while Barrister Rafiqul Islam represented for Mozammel Huq.
Syed Mamun Mahbub, another lawyer of Qamrul Islam, said that the court rejected the explanation of the Food Minister, as he said that he made the comment out of
emotion as a freedom fighter. The court also asked Qamrul Islam to give the explanation again during the next hearing. The court, however, accepted explanation of Mozammel Huq partially.
During the hearing, the SC bench seriously criticised the two ministers for their comments in relation to the hearing of an appeal of war crimes convict Mir Quasem Ali. “The ministers not only undermined the Chief Justice but also dishonoured the entire judiciary by their statements,” the SC said.
SK Sinha told Abdul Baset Mazumder that the Food Minister has confessed to his guilt and questioned that by doing so whether he has violated his oath. The Chief Justice also said that, he communicated the Law Minister when he was in Nepal through the high commission office to ask the two ministers to apologise unconditionally through holding a press conference for their derogatory comments about the CJ. He also requested the Law Minister to raise the issue in the cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister scolded the two ministers in a cabinet meeting which was not enough as the ministers did not apologise through a press conference. The court is a part of the constitution not the government. Judiciary and government should have mutual respect, said the CJ.
Earlier, on March 15, the SC ordered the two ministers to appear before it on March 20. On March 14, Qamrul Islam and Mozammel Huq offered unconditional apology to the court for their remarks. They begged the pardon in separate applications submitted to the SC through their lawyers.
Qamrul Isalm also filed a petition with the SC seeking time to appear before it, as he was in Malaysia to attend a conference.
Earlier on March 8, the Supreme Court summoned the two ministers to appear before it on March 15. The court then ordered them to explain their comments before it by March 14.
During the hearing of arguments on Mir Quasem Ali’s appeal petition on February 23, the Chief Justice expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of the prosecution team and the investigation agency.
Qamrul Islam and Mozammel Huq demanded resignation of the Chief Justice for his reported comment.
During yesterday’s hearing, SK Sinha said if the chief justice could withdraw himself from the war crimes cases riot would take place in the country and the entire trial proceeding of the war crimes cases would be hampered. If the Chief Justice could be purchased at a cost of Taka one thousand crore, the four other judges cannot be purchased, he added.
The law will run on the straight way against anybody how much powerful he or she could be. This court will not hesitate to pass any order for protecting the constitution, the CJ said.
