The Supreme Court is hearing a review petition on Sunday on an appeal court ruling that declared the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, which empowers the National Parliament to remove Supreme Court judges, as unconstitutional and void.
The review petition filed by the government has been placed at the top of the appeal division's daily cause list, as per the Supreme Court's website.
Following protests by the anti-discrimination student movement demanding the resignation or removal of "partisan" and "corrupt" judges, the High Court division on 16 October decided to temporarily bar 12 judges from hearing cases.
The protesters demanded the removal of all judges appointed during the Awami League's term.
In response, Supreme Court Registrar General Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan informed the protesters that there is a legal process for the removal of judges, but no current law permits it.
He explained that while the previous government had introduced the 16th Amendment to address the issue, the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional.
The review petition challenging this ruling will be heard by a bench led by the Chief Justice today.
The 16th Amendment was passed in January 2014, shortly after the 10th National Assembly elections, and it removed the Supreme Judicial Council's role in the removal of judges.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
