The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon former Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed to show cause within three weeks as to why contempt proceeding should not be drawn against him for his skeptical statement against its landmark verdict on who proclaimed the independence in 1971.

The HC bench, comprising Justices ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Momtaz Uddin Ahmed, also ordered the former Vice-chancellor to appear before the court in person on July 2 to explain as to why punitive measures should not be taken against him for speaking against the court and its verdict.

The bench gave the order on a petition filed by freedom fighter Dr MA Salam, who also filed the original public interest petition on the contentious issue of proclamation of independence.

The two judges on June 21 delivered the verdict upon the petition declaring that it was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and not Ziaur Rahman, who proclaimed the 1971 independence of Bangladesh.

After the HC rule, the petitioner's counsel Advocate Manzil Murshed told reporters that the landmark verdict was on his client's writ petition over the revised edition of the history of war of liberation.

The court also proscribed the controversial 2004 edition of the historical document titled Bangladesh War of Liberation inserting Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence. It also observed that the government if wants could take actions against those responsible for such insertion.

Prof Emajuddin, who was among a panel of experts asked by the then government to review the earlier edition, reacted to the HC judgement next day by issuing a press statement to clarify his position.

But Manzil claimed that Prof Emajuddin made the statement questioning whether the HC judges acted properly. His statement, carried in newspapers on June 23 was tantamount to contempt of court and violation of dignity of the court order, the lawyer said.

UNB adds: While moving the contempt petition before the court, advocate Manzill cited newspaper clippings of what he said contemptuous statement by Dr Emajuddin, one of the members of the authentication committee on publication of the revised edition of the History of Bangladesh War of Liberation.

Terming contemptuous the statement, Advocate Manzill submitted that without showing any respect to the June 21 HC judgement Prof Emajuddin, by making such statement, "undermined the authority and dignity" of the judges of the higher judiciary.

"Dr Emajuddin made the statement wilfully and deliberately to scandalise the judges of the High Court, polluting the fountain of justice," said Manzill. He pleaded that the matter should be dealt with in accordance with law in the interest of justice.