Don't demean the apex court

Twenty-five eminent citizens yesterday expressed concern over the reactions by different quarters on the Supreme Court's verdict that scrapped the 16th amendment to the constitution.

They urged all quarters to refrain from making comments that demean the apex court, considering people's overall interest, says a press release.

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Both -- politicisation of the apex court's verdict or showing over enthusiasm on the judgment -- is harmful to the dignity and creativity of the court, they said in a statement.

As the court is the last resort to protect people's democratic rights, any steps that weaken it are totally unexpected and very regrettable, they added.

On August 1, the SC released the full text of its verdict that scrapped the 16th amendment to the constitution. The amendment had given parliament the power to remove the apex court's judges for misconduct or incapacity.

Several Awami League leaders, including its president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, strongly criticised the verdict and Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha for his observations in the judgement. Some of them even demanded removal of the chief justice.

On the other hand, the BNP welcomed the verdict and sharply criticised the government and AL leaders for rebuking the chief justice centering the judgment.

The 25 signatories of the statement are: Serajul Islam Choudhury, Prof emeritus of Dhaka University, Prof Ajoy Roy, Prof Asif Nazrul and Prof Ridwanul Haque of DU, Tagore researcher Ahmed Rafiq, Convenor of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Convenor of civil society platform Shujan Badiul Alam Majumdar, economist Swapan Adnan, political scientist Dilara Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of Central Women's University Prof Parveen Hasan, eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, journalist Abu Sayeed Khan, anthropologist Rehnuma Ahmed, Shahidul Alam of Drik Gallery, physician Prof Mujaherul Haque, barrister Sara Hossain, barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, lawyer Ziaur Rahman and human rights activists Hameeda Hossain, Shirin Haque, Nur Khan Liton, Rezaur Rahman Lenin and Zakir Hossain.