The government is preparing to file a review petition against the Supreme Court (SC) verdict on the 16th amendment to the Constitution that scrapped Parliament’s authority to remove judges on the grounds of misconduct and incapacity.  “The attorney general has already been instructed to prepare a review petition against the apex court verdict. The government has already applied for getting the certified copy of the verdict as part of the preparations. The verdict is being scrutinised. The government is getting ready to file the review petition,” law minister Anisul Huq told The Independent yesterday.

 When asked, attorney general Mahbubey Alam said: “I  still need to sit

with the law minister to take the final decision on filing the review petition.”

 “We’re scrutinising the apex court verdict. We’ll go ahead after taking the final decision in consultation with the law minister,” he added.

 In response to a query, Alam said, “It was a long verdict. We need time to scrutinise the whole verdict.”

 He, however, mentioned that they were yet to get the certified copy of the apex court verdict.  

 At a programme in the capital yesterday, the law minister again talked about the government’s intention to file a review petition against the SC verdict on the 16th amendment to the Constitution. He also said the government already applied for getting the certified copy of the verdict.

 “We don’t agree with the verdict, but we’re respectful about it,” he added.

 The minister said that the apex court’s verdict contained “irrelevant”, “unnecessary” and “objectionable” statements. “It’s normal to react on such statements without showing contempt to the court,” he added.

 On July 3, the Appellate Division of the SC scrapped the 16th amendment and restored the Supreme Judicial Council. The full text of the verdict was released on August 1. The verdict, which severely criticises the role of the present government, created a huge uproar in legal and political arenas.

 In the verdict, the SC made some political comments like ‘Parliament is dysfunctional’ and ‘no nation - no country is made of, or by, one person’ which have irked  the Awami League. Ruling party lawmakers have come down heavily on the verdict and the Chief Justice, who delivered the verdict.

 On the other hand, the BNP has hailed the judgment ,saying it “exposed the government’s misdeeds”.

 Senior Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, recently met President Abdul Hamid and reportedly discussed the issue.

A few days back, AL secretary general Obaidul Quader went over to the residence of Chief Justice SK Sinha to talk over the matter. The minister said he would again sit with the Chief Justice on the matter.