Tangail-4 by-election remains stayed
As SC starts hearing Kader Siddique's plea seeking candidacy
The Supreme Court yesterday started hearing an appeal filed by Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique challenging a High Court verdict that upheld cancellation of his candidacy for the by-polls of Tangail-4 constituency.
After concluding yesterday's proceedings on the appeal, the apex court also postponed its hearing.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha said this court will fix a date later for resuming the hearing.
The SC's stay order on the process for holding the by-polls of Tangail-4 constituency will continue until its further order, Election Commission's lawyer Barrister Mohammed Yeasin Khan told The Daily Star.
The EC on September 16, 2015 had issued a notification fixing November 10 the same year for the by-polls to the constituency that fell vacant following the resignation of Awami League lawmaker Abdul Latif Siddique from parliament, and asked aspirants to submit nomination papers by October 11 that year.
As the returning officer on October 13, 2015 cancelled Kader Siddique's nomination on loan default charges, he filed separate appeals, first with the EC and then with the HC.
On February 4 last year, the HC upheld the EC's decision that had cancelled his candidacy and directed the EC to proceed with the by-polls.
On February 29 last year, the EC fixed March 20 for holding by-election to Tagail-4 constituency.
Earlier on October 27, 2015 during hearing a petition of Kader Siddique, the SC stayed the by-election of Tangail-4 constituency till January 31 last year. Later, the apex court extended its stay order.