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Bail Fix

Ruling bigwigs split over action

Star Report
Policymakers are divided on taking action in line with the Supreme Judicial Council's recommendations against a High Court Additional Judge Syed Shahidur Rahman for misconduct.
Former chief justice KM Hasan, who headed the first-ever council
before his retirement, submitted its report to President lajuddin Ahmed on January 27 with a recommendation to remove the judge, accused of taking bribes from alitigant, Nasima Sultana Kona, to bail her nephew outofawomen’srepressioncase
The president sent the report to the law ministry with his note to seek advice from Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, but the ministry did not send his note to the Prime Minister's Office 14days into the handover of the verdict.
The apparent official stonewalling caricatures what Law Minister Moudud Ahmed told the press on January 28 that the issue would be settled in a couple of days.
"We will send the report to the prime minister in a few days," Moudud told The Daily Star last night.
"Some ministers are lobbying for the judge. They don't want to see him removed," said a policymaker, asking notto be named.
The ministers believe if the government acts on the council recommendations, it will lose morally as the ruling coalition appointed Shahidur despite a serious objection bythe Bar that earlier accused him of embezzling fund from the lawyers' association when he was its treasurer, he said.
The council in its report says it has not been proved beyond doubt to convict Shahidur of taking bribes in the bail fix, but he should no longer hold the post because of circumstantial
evidence and in the backdrop of the situation.
"But a cabinet minister and a state minister are trying to save the judge," another cabinet member said, requesting anonymity.
He said a set of lawyers with close ties to the coalition was also trying to talk the government out of the possible action against Shahidur and argue it is not mandatory for the government to implementthe council's recommendations.
The argument in Shahidur's defence presents a contrast to what Moudud said earlier-'the government will act in line with the council's recommendations'.
A policymaker told The Daily Star last night: "The government will take steps by the weekend despite pro-Shahidur lobbying."
The council was formed on October 29 last year upon a presidential directive following an allegation against Shahidur by Supreme Court Bar Association President Rokan-uddin Mahmud. Shahidur has been on leave since the allegation was raised.