SC Letter to ACC: HC verdict any day on its legality

The High Court is set to deliver a verdict any day on the rule that questioned the legality of a letter from the Supreme Court authorities to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The letter had said it would not be appropriate for the ACC to take action against Justice Md Joynul Abedin, a former apex court judge who went on retirement on December 31, 2009.

Yesterday, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim kept the rule as CAV [Curia advisari vult, a Latin legal term meaning verdict could be delivered any time] following a hearing on the matter.

The court began the hearing earlier in the day. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for the state, advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the ACC, while barrister Moinul Hosein argued for Justice Joynul.

The HC also heard expert opinions from three amici curiae (friends of court) -- advocates Zainul Abedin, Prabir Neogi and AM Aminuddin.

On October 9, the HC issued the rule asking the then SC registrar general, the then additional registrar, Justice Joynul and the ACC chairman to explain as to why the letter should not be declared illegal.

The bench passed the order after SC lawyer Badiuzzaman Tafader placed a copy of the letter before the HC bench for necessary order.

The ACC on March 2 sent a letter to the SC's registrar general's office, asking for documents regarding the service, salaries and relevant benefits received by Justice Joynul for conducting an enquiry into his wealth.

In response, the SC administration on March 28 sent the letter, signed by the then Additional Registrar of the Appellate Division of the SC Arunav Chakraborty, to the anti-graft watchdog, saying that if action is taken against the former SC judge, it will call into question all the verdicts he delivered.