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Published : 20 Mar 2025, 01:06 PM
Justice Khizir Hayat has been removed from the Supreme Court’s High Court Division after he was sent on leave following political changeover in the wake of the July Uprising.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin dismissed him in accordance with the Constitution on Tuesday, a law ministry notification said on Wednesday.
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed sent several judges appointed during the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on leave on Oct 16 following demands for their removal.
Hayat was one of them.
On Jan 6, the Supreme Court said a Supreme Judicial Council would be in charge of investigating different allegations against several justices.
It said that the council would begin its investigations the following week.
On Dec 15, the Supreme Court said the Supreme Judicial Council had sent a report to the president on investigations into “several” judges of the High Court.
The names of the judges were not revealed.
On Oct 20, the Appellate Division ruled to revive the Supreme Judicial Council system for the removal of judges, bringing an end to the complications that loomed over the removal of justices during the Awami League regime.
Under the Awami League government, the power to remove judges was vested in parliament through the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, sparking tension between the Supreme Court and the government.
The Appellate Division later declared the 16th Amendment illegal and scrapped it.
The 2017 ruling revived the Supreme Judicial Council system to remove judges. The verdict by the Appellate Division bench led by then chief justice SK Sinha contributed further to the rising tension between the government and the top court.
The state petitioned for the ruling to be reconsidered but did not take steps for a hearing.
After the fall of the Awami League government, the Appellate Division reinstated the Supreme Judicial Council after hearing a review petition.
During the Awami League government, three judges - Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury, Justice Kazi Reza-ul Haque and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque - were ordered to refrain from judicial work in August 2019 due to various allegations.
Since then, they have not been involved in judicial duties. Following the government changeover, their resignations were announced in a notification by the Ministry of Law on Nov 19.
