SC upholds president’s order removing HC judge

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the presidential order for removal of a former additional judge in High Court, Syed Shahidur Rahman.

An Appellate Division bench, headed by chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, gave the order.

In October 2003, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and senior lawyer Rokanuddin Mahmud came up with an allegation of ‘professional misconduct’ against the High Court additional judge.

Later, a three-member Supreme Judicial Council, led by the then chief justice KM Hasan, conducted an investigation into the allegation.

The council then handed over the report of the investigation to the then president Iajuddin Ahmed attaching a recommendation for removal of the HC judge Shahidur Rahman.

On 20 April 2004, the then president Iajuddin Ahmed issued an order removing Shahidur Rahman.

Later, Shahidur Rahman filed a writ challenging the presidential order and on 2 February 2005, the High Court declared illegal the removal order.

Later, one Supreme Court lawyer Idrisur Rahman filed an appeal petition against the HC order.

Today (Wednesday), the Appellate Division stayed the presidential order over the removal of Shahidur Rahman.