The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law Ministry will seek the views of stakeholders regarding the impeachment bill, if the government agrees. Law Minister Anisul Huq will consult the government today, Wednesday, in this regard and inform the committee accordingly.
This was decided at the parliamentary standing committee meeting held yesterday, Tuesday, at the Sangsad Bhaban. The 16th Amendment Bill was discussed in detail. The committee will hold a meeting on the bill again today.
Speaking at a press briefing after yesterday's meeting, chairman of the committee Suranjit Sengupta said that the parliamentary committee wanted the government's opinion as to whether the views of those involved in the judiciary could be taken regarding the bill. The Law Minister has been given the responsibility in this regard.
Suranjit Sengupta said that the committee had decided to scrap the preamble of the bill.
Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the 16th Amendment Bill in parliament on 7 September. It was placed in an amended form as there were errors in the preamble.
Suranjit Sengupta went on to say that the judges would be removed, not impeached. Impeachment is applicable only to the President. Vested quarters were twisting the matter for political interests. Judges would only be removed on grounds of misbehaviour or incapacity. The people wanted to be spared from such judges as judges were the people's last resort.
Criticising the Supreme Judicial council, Suranjit Sengupta said that the Constitution spoke of forming a Supreme Judicial Council comprising judges. That would mean the he would be both the accuser and the judge. This would not bring about justice. There was no law concerning the work procedure of the Supreme Judicial Council, there was only a Code of Conduct. That was mere "tell the truth" rhetoric.
Suranjit Sengupta continued, "Once the bill is passed, judges will not be removed without any reason at all. A judge can only be removed if the allegations against him are proven. The allegations must be investigated and then the decision must be passed by two-thirds of the parliament. After that, upon recommendation of the parliament, the President will remove the judge. So there is no need for all the hue and cry over this bill."
Present at the meeting chaired by Suranjit Sengupta, were Law Minister Anisul Huq, Abdul Matin Khasru, Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Sahara Khatun, Talukdar Mohammed Yunus, Ziaul Huq Mridha, Abdul Majid Khan and others.