Lawyer challenges Parliament’s power to sack judges

A lawyer has moved the High Court challenging legality of the 16th Constitutional Amendment empowering Parliament to remove judges.

Yunus Ali Akhand has also challenged Jan 5 election results gazette and sought a stay order on the implementation of the latest amendment.

The Supreme Court lawyer submitted his petition at the High Court on Wednesday.

Secretaries to the Cabinet, law, and Parliament secretariat, and the Election Commission have been named defendants.

File Photo

Parliament on Sept 17 pushed through the amendment and the president signed it into law five days later.

The BNP, which boycotted the Jan 5 polls, along with several other political parties and an organisation of lawyers had protested against the move.

They claimed the government was trying to "impose itself on the judiciary" -- an allegation denied by the ruling party.

Lawyer Akhand pointed out that no educational criteria was set for the MPs whereas a 10-year work experience is required to be appointed as a Supreme Court judge or practice law there.

The power to remove a judge cannot be bestowed upon a Parliament member who is "less qualified", he argued in the petition.