Dhaka: Reiterating that Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha is sick, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said there is nothing to do politics over the issue.

"Justice Sinha is sick and under doctor's observation at his home. Yesterday, a doctor visited him and as far as I know he (doctor) is scheduled to visit Justice Sinha today too. Let us all pray for his health and that is what we should be doing, not politicizing an issue like this," he said.

"Sickness is one's individual matter and there's nothing to do politics over the issue," he told reporters at his office.

About BNP's claim that the Chief Justice was forced to go on leave, the minister termed it unfortunate.

Asked about the whereabouts of SK Sinha, he said, "As far as I know, he's staying in his residence and he's sick. A doctor went to visit him at his residence yesterday (Tuesday) and is scheduled to visit today (Wednesday)."

Replying to another query as to why no one on behalf of the government visited the 'ailing' Chief Justice, Anisul said, "I've contacted the physician and I'll definitely visit him when I'm in a position to go there. A cancer patient needs more time to be cured. We all know this."

Asked why the Chief Justice did not go to hospital, he described it as his personal matter. "I can't tell you anything about this. I can just tell you I'll visit him soon."

The minister also read out before the reporters the letter the Chief Justice had sent to the President about his leave.

The letter reads: "This is for your kind information that I have been suffering from many physical problems. I had been under treatment for long being affected by cancer. Now, I'm suffering from various physical complications and I need rest to gain physical fitness. So, I want to enjoy a 30-day leave from October 3 to November 1."

Responding to another query about the Chief Justice's absence in Tuesday's Supreme Court programme, Anisul posed a counter question, "Is it my responsibility to explain the matter? He went to his office. Please tell me whether the government made any obstruction to the programme."

"After knowing about the sickness and leave of the Chief Justice, the government took constitutional steps and we've received the forwarding letter from the SC registrar general. The government appointed an acting Chief Justice as the post should not remain vacant. What is the need to do politics here?

He also urged all to pray for the Chief Justice's recovery, saying his illness has put the minister in danger.

Asked whether SK Sinha is under house arrest, the minister said, "Absolutely not, absolutely not."

Replying to another question, he expressed the hope that the Chief Justice's condition will not deteriorate so much with his resignation, "I don't want to go for any speculation and I hope he won't be so sick that he submits a resignation letter. I hope he'll be cured soon."

Asked about the acting Chief Justice's controversial role in a war crimes case, the minister said, "It's clearly stated in section 97 of the Constitution that the senior-most judge of the Appellate Division should be appointed as the Chief Justice. It's mentioned nowhere in the Constitution that a controversial person shouldn't be appointed the Chief Justice."

He also thanked the Chief Justice for informing the President about his sickness and leave.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said those doing politics over the Chief Justice's leave have an ill-motive behind it.

Talking to reporters at his Supreme Court office, he also claimed that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has gone under the grip of a political party and it is carrying out the agenda of that party.

About SCBA President's concern over the CJ's leave, the Attorney General said, "They themselves invented the worries. We should only focus on whether the judicial activities are running smoothly and there's nothing to be worried about here."

The law minister came up with the observations while talking to newsmen at his office in the afternoon.

Anisul said he is in regular contact with the physician looking after the chief justice and will surely visit Justice Sinha once the doctor gives green signal.

Referring to BNP's allegation over Chief Justice Sinha's leave, Anisul said it is really sad. 

"Sickness is a personal matter. When you talk about someone's personal matter, it infringes his privacy. Again I would like to say he (chief justice) is sick and there is nothing to do politics over it," the law minister added.

Anisul also presented a copy of Chief Justice Sinha's letter to president, seeking leave for a month. He read it out before the newsmen.

The law minister referred to a provision of article 97 of the constitution while talking about giving responsibility of acting chief justice to Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, and said, "You can't leave vacant the post of chief justice."

Binning a question about the resignation of the chief justice, Anisul said, "He has not filed resignation letter yet. I don't want to get into such speculation and I hope his sickness will not turn so bad that he would be forced to file his resignation letter. I hope he will recover."

The law minister also said there is no void in the judiciary following the leave of the chief justice, adding, both the Appellate Division and the High Court Division at the Supreme Court are functioning properly as an acting chief justice took the charge.