Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Sunday issued a 40-point code of conduct for judges, including a timeframe for signing on the copies of verdicts, reported UNB.

The SC judges will have to complete writing verdicts in cases, which are not exception in any way, within six months from the date of their retirement.

The SC came up with the code of conduct for judges in its full verdict on an appeal against a High Court order declaring then President’s decision removing additional judge of the High Court Syed Shahidur Rahman illegal.

It was mentioned in the full verdict that the behaviour of judges should be of high standard so that the honesty and independence of the judiciary are not harmed, and they have to abide by the Constitution and law and manifest good behaviour so that people can keep trust on them.

The judges cannot maintain any familial, social or other relations that may affect the verdict and the trial proceedings and a judge should not use his position for personal gains.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, signed full verdict. The three other members of the bench are Justice Nazmul Ara Sultana, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Hasan Foez Siddique.

In a message on the occasion of the first anniversary of his taking office as the 21^st chief justice of the country on January 17 last, Chief Justice SK Sinha said some judges make unusual delays in writing verdicts while others continue to write that even long after their retirement, which goes against the law and the constitution.

On September 16, 2015, the SC upheld the then President’s decision removing additional judge of the High Court Syed Shahidur Rahman.

Then President Md Iajuddin Ahmed, acting upon Supreme Judicial Council’s recommendations, removed the judge in April, 2004 over the allegations of bail fixing.

On February 3, 2005, the High Court declared illegal the then President’s decision removing the additional judge from his office.

Then, SC lawyer Idrisur Rahman filed an appeal as a public interest litigation with the SC challenging the HC verdict.

Allegations of bail fixing against Shahidur Rahman were raised by Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud at a lawyers’ meeting in October 2003, six months within Rahman’s appointment as an additional judge to the HC.

Mahmud alleged that the appointment was made on political considerations, ignoring the question of efficiency and integrity of the person.

As the allegations against a sitting judge of the HC were serious in nature and stirred political upheaval, the SJC took up the matter for investigation and submitted its report to the President.

The President, acting upon SJC’s recommendations, removed the judge.

Dr Kamal Hossain stood for petitioner Idrisur Rahman while additional attorney general Murad Reza represented the state.