Lawyer allowed to practice in HC despite failing exam; court stays gazette

The High Court today stayed the effectiveness of a gazette notification issued by Bangladesh Bar Council permitting Md Zumman Siddique, son of a High Court judge, to practice law in the High Court even though Zumman could not qualify the enrollment examination.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the Bangladesh Bar Council and the government to explain in four weeks why the gazette notification should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque suman and advocate Ishraf Hasan challenging the gazette notification.

Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hassan told The Daily Star that Zumman Siddique cannot practice law in any court of Bangladesh following the High Court order.

He said the bar council authorities on October 31 this year issued the gazette notification allowing Zumman Siddique to practice law in the High Court although the enrolment committee of the Bar council led by Justice Md Nuruzzaman refused to endorse the proposal for permitting Zumman to practice law in the court as he failed in the bar council’s MCQ examination for two times.

The court sources said Zumman completed Bar-at-law in New Zealand and he got enrolled at a New Zealand bar for practicing law in that country.

Earlier, four separate High Court benches refused to hear the writ petition.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state supporting the writ petition while Barrister M Amir -Ul Islam argued for Zumman Siddique.