PM: SK Sinha lost CJ post due to conflict with other judges

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha failed to remain in his position at the top of the judiciary due to conflict with his colleagues.

“SK Sinha was the first ever chief justice from a minority community, but he himself failed to keep his post. His own colleagues from the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division made allegations against him to the president,” she told a press meet on Wednesday.

The prime minister was briefing the media at Ganabhaban on her latest visit to New York, USA, where she attended the 73rd United Nations General Assembly and a number of events.

Justice Sinha, who is currently in the US after resigning as the chief justice in November last year, recently made headlines after publishing an autobiography, where he accused the incumbent Awami League-led government of “exiling” him after he had resigned “in the face of intimidation and threats.”

At a recent event in Washington DC, he also revealed that he has sought political asylum in the US.

Bangladesh Nationalist Alliance chief, Barrister Nazmul Huda, who is close to the Awami League and trying to join the ruling party-led 14-party alliance, on September 27 filed a case against Justice Sinha, accusing him of demanding bribes, corruption, and abusing his power.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina briefs the media at Ganabhaban in Dhaka on October 3, 2018 | Focus Bangla

Taking cues from the latest issues, Sheikh Hasina said: “The Appellate Division justices said it was not possible to work with SK Sinha as he was creating problems.

“We [the government] are not involved in this matter. It is completely a matter between him and his former colleagues.”

Last year, five Appellate Division judges declared they could not continue working with Justice Sinha, following 11 allegations that were levelled against him, including money laundering, financial scams, corruption, and moral degradation.

In October 2017, the Supreme Court issued a rare statement with condemnatory allegations which tainted his career, just three and a half months before his retirement.

The statement, signed by the Supreme Court Registrar General Syed Aminul Islam, was issued hours after Justice Sinha left for Australia amid harsh criticism from ruling party lawmakers for scrapping the 16th constitutional amendment.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday also announced it would investigate the case Huda filed against Justice Sinha under the Anti-Corruption Act.

The ACC is also investigating Justice Sinha’s brother, Ananta Kumar Sinha, over allegations of money laundering, amassing illegal wealth, and other financial crimes.