Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha is yet to inform the law minister anything about extension of his 39-day leave that expired yesterday.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha is facing 11 charges, including money laundering and corruption, the Supreme Court said in a statement yesterday, a day after he left the country for Australia.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha last night said he was not sick as he left the country for Australia, contradicting the government's claim that he went on leave on health grounds earlier this month.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) yesterday alleged that Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha was forced to take a month's

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha yesterday said the Supreme Court welcomes constructive criticisms of judgments and its judges will not fall into any trap laid by the government or the opposition. Requesting all to refrain from playing politics with SC verdicts, he said everybody should exercise restraint and it will be good for all.

Some senior ministers yesterday expressed strong disagreement with the Supreme Court over the restoration of Supreme Judicial Council for removal of SC judges on grounds of gross misconduct or incapacity. The SC in the full verdict in 16th constitutional amendment case said the provision of SJC has been reinstated following the cancellation of that amendment, which had empowered parliament to remove SC judges.

The Supreme Court is critical of the system for appointing higher court judges and stressed the need for a better selection process.

The provision of Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for the removal of SC judges for misconduct or incapacity has been reinstated in the

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam had a heated exchange yesterday during a hearing on the appeal against the High Court verdict that scrapped the 16th amendment of the constitution.

The Jatiya Sangsad has again lost the power to remove Supreme Court judges on grounds of incapacity or misconduct as the High Court yesterday scrapped the 16th constitutional amendment that restored the parliament's authority. The HC declared that the amendment is illegal, unconstitutional and against the principles of the separation of state powers and the independence of the judiciary.