Bangladesh Supreme Court Reinstates Judicial Oversight

Bangladesh's Supreme Court reinstated the Supreme Judicial Council, nullifying the 16th constitutional amendment that transferred judicial removal powers to parliament. The amendment, passed during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, was deemed illegal. The ruling reinforced original constitutional provisions, concluding a legal battle against state challenges.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has reinstated the Supreme Judicial Council's authority to investigate judicial misconduct, effectively rejecting the 16th constitutional amendment that allocated the power to remove judges to parliament. This landmark decision upholds a previous ruling, maintaining the original constitutional framework.

A six-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, confirmed the order, siding with the initial 2016 High Court decision that decried the amendment as unconstitutional. This decision ends a prolonged legal battle initiated by Sheikh Hasina's regime.

The ruling not only rejects the amendment, passed in 2014, but also reaffirms the stance of former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, who faced political pressure for his opposition. Since then, a student-led uprising resulted in the end of Hasina's rule and the eventual arrest of several former government officials.

(With inputs from agencies.)