Justice Shahed Nuruddin resigns amid judicial probe

Shahed was one of the 12 justices Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed sent on leave after facing demands to remove those appointed during the Hasina government

High Court Justice Shahed Nuruddin has resigned amid a probe by the Supreme Judicial Council.

He submitted his resignation to the president through the chief justice, said Supreme Court Public Relations Officer Md Shafiqul Islam.

After retiring as a district and sessions judge, Nuruddin was appointed as an additional justice at the High Court Division on Oct 21, 2019, during the Awami League’s rule. His appointment was made permanent after two years.

While he served as the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal No. 1, Nuruddin announced the verdict on the much-discussed Aug 21 grenade attack case. After the changeover in power, the High Court acquitted all convicts in the case.

Nuruddin also announced verdicts in several other prominent cases, including the murder cases of Sabekun Nahar Sony, former MP Ahsanullah Master, Picchi Hannan, Habibur Rahman Mondal, former deputy speaker Humayun Khan Panni’s wife Sultana Panni, Faridpur journalist Gautam Das, ward commissioner Saidur Rahman Newton, college teacher Krishna Kaberi, the Purobi Jewellers owner, and the police telecom killing case.

Nuruddin completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law at Dhaka University before joining the judiciary on Apr 20, 1983, as a munsef. He was promoted to the post of district judge on Feb 20, 2000.

On Oct 16 last year, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed sent 12 justices on leave in the face of demands to remove judges appointed during the Sheikh Hasina government. These justices were barred from their judicial duties. Nuruddin was one of the 12 judges.

As per the law, any recommendation reported by the Supreme Judicial Council is implemented by the president. However, the Supreme Judicial Council was not active at that time.

The Appellate Division revived the council on Oct 20. This resolved the issues surrounding the removal of justices that had prevailed during the Awami League’s tenure.

The Supreme Judicial Council completed its probe against some of the judges of the High Court and submitted the reports to the president in December. Nuruddin resigned one and a half months after the report’s submission.