Govt preparing to seek appellate verdict review on 16th amendment

The government is preparing to seek a review of the Supreme Court's verdict that cancelled the 16th Amendment to the Constitution.

"We have asked for an attested copy of the full verdict, which is now being carefully analysed. The review will follow these efforts," Law Minister Anisul Huq said in response to questions asked by reporters at a programme in Tejgaon on Friday.

"There are some irrelevant matters in the verdict. The review will mention those parts. The government is taking preparations. A published verdict is now a public document."

 The minister said those criticising the verdict should be careful against committing contempt of court.

The top court's decision to strip the parliament of the power to sack judges over incapacity or misconduct has been stirring reactions from various quarters.

Law Commission Chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque on Thursday said the verdict and its observation had flaws. He earlier accused Chief Justice SK Sinha of having a pre-conceived notion of the 16th amendment passed in 2014.

But the BNP has hailed it as historic, and criticised Haque, a former chief justice, over his reaction.