B'desh HC orders reinstatement of 10 judges sacked by Zia govt

Dhaka, July 18 (PTI) In a significant ruling, Bangladesh's High Court has quashed an order by the previous Khaleda Zia government sacking 10 of its judges appointed during arch-rival Awami League's rule and directed their reinstatement.
A three-judge bench issued the order on separate writ
petitions filed by 10 of the 15 judges who were terminated six
years ago despite a positive recommendation by the then chief
justice on completion of their two-year provisional period.
Declaring Zia's government's decision as malafide, the
bench comprising Justices M.A. Rashid, S.K. Sinha and
Nazmun-ara- Sultana last evening ordered their reinstatement
as permanent judges, calculating their seniority from the day
they were terminated.
The 15 were appointed as additional judges of the High
Court on May 28, 2000 when former prime minister Sheikh
Hasina's Awami League was in power.
However, the B.N.P. (Bangladesh National Party)-led
four-party government which ruled from 2001 to 2006 declined
to "confirm" them as permanent judges without citing any
reason.
Only 10 of the judges filed separate writ petitions on
February 4, 2003 challenging their termination while one of
the judges has since died later.
"The High Court has protected the constitution
delivering this memorable judgement today," petitioners'
counsel and leading jurist Kamal Hossain said.
B.N.P. chief Zia was arrested in September last year by
the military-backed government under its anti-graft drive.
Hasina too was in jail since July last year on corruption
charges but was granted parole last month and allowed to go
abroad for "treatment".