The law ministry today issued a gazette notification on the government order about Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha’s leaving for Australia on leave.

Now, the CJ can go abroad anytime, Mahbubar Rahman Sarker, deputy secretary of law ministry told The Daily Star this morning.

The ministry issued the gazette notification after President Abdul Hamid yesterday gave consent to the CJ’s leaving the country for Australia.

Also READ: Acting CJ for cooperation among state organs

The chief justice is on a one-month leave “on health grounds” since October 3.

Earlier, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the chief justice had gone on leave for treatment as he had cancer.

The BNP, however, alleged that the chief justice was sent on forced leave.

READ more: GOVT CRITICAL

Justice SK Sinha came under the spotlight after a Supreme Court bench headed by him scrapped the 16th Amendment to the Constitution that restored parliament's authority to impeach SC judges for misconduct or incapacity.