Why gazette should not be scrapped: HC

The High Court (HC) yesterday questioned the legality of Election Commission's decision of demarcating Kurigram-4 constituency to include Chilmari area.

The court issued a rule asking the commission and the government to explain in four weeks why the gazette notification issued by the Election Commission on June 10 demarcating Kurigram-4 constituency to include Chilmari area, should not be scrapped.

The Chief Election Commissioner, secretary to the Election Commission, deputy commissioner of Kurigram, district and regional election officers concerned have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Shahidul Karim issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Abdul Hye Sarkar, president of Rajipur upazila Awami League.

As per their rules, the Election Commission has to consider the communication and geographical position of the areas during delimitation of any parliamentary constituency, said Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub.

Chilmari is situated on the other side of Brahmaputra river from Roumari-Rajipur area, he said.

It is also a remote area, he added.

The Election Commission itself excluded it from Kurigram-4 (Roumari-Rajipur) constituency in 2013, said Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub.

Influenced by a vested quarter, the Election Commission  has issued a gazette notification on June 10 on Kurigram-4 (Roumari-Rajipur) constituency, including Chilmari, in violation of the Election Commission rules, the lawyer added.