'Appointment of two judges still effective'

16 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said the appointments of two High Court judges, who were left out of oath, still remain effective, as the government did not cancel their appointments. The allegations, which have been brought against judges Ruhul Quddus Babu and Md Khasruzzaman, are not true, he claimed. Talking to reporters at his secretariat office on his return from a two-week visit to England and Germany, the minister said the proceedings of the appointments were made in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, so they can take oath any time. Replying to a query, he said getting third class in an academic career is not a bar to be appointed as a judge of the High Court, rather it depends on efficiency, honesty and performance. He said the appointment of Abdul Matin, who resigned from the office of the chief investigator of war crimes, was not wrong. "He resigned willingly when questions were raised against him for his role in student life," he said. President Zillur Rahman appointed 17 new judges including the controversial two to the HC Division on April 11 for two years. The chief justice on April 18 administered oath to 15 judges leaving the two in the wake of protest from a section of Supreme Court Bar Association leaders including its president and secretary.