The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the Supreme Court administration’s letter seeking to stop investigation into corruption allegation against former Appellate Division judge Justice Md Zainul Abedin should not be declared illegal, reports UNB. An HC bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim came up with the rule after Supreme Court lawyer M Badiuzzaman Tafadar brought the matter to the court’s notice. The SC Registrar General, Appellate Division Additional Registrar Arunava Chakraborty, Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman and Justice Zainul Abedin were asked to reply to the rule within 10 days, said ACC lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan.

He also said the court appointed Supreme Court Bar Association President Zainul Abedin, and senior lawyers AM Amin Uddin and Prabir Niyogi as amici curiae, fixing October 19 for the next hearing.

The ACC in July 2010 sent a notice to Justice Zainul Abedin asking him to submit his wealth statement to the national anti-graft body.

On March 2 last, the ACC in a letter sought necessary papers from the Supreme Court to start investigation into the graft allegation against the former judge.

In reply, the Supreme Court sent a letter to the ACC on April 28 saying it would not be proper for the ACC to take any kind of action against a former judge.

The letter was signed by Arunava Chakraborty.