Contempt rule against 2 govt high-ups

The High Court today issued a contempt of court rule against the Shishu Academy director and secretary to women and children affairs ministry for not handing over a Supreme Court land despite an apex court order.

Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Shishu Academy had occupied some of the SC lands, and the RHD has already handed over the land to the SC, but Shishu Academy has not handed over the land yet, said Manzill Murshid, a Supreme Court lawyer who filed the contempt of court petition.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Kashefa Hussain came up with the rule following the petition against Shishu Academy Director Md Mosharraf Hossain and Secretary Tariqul Islam.

In the rule, the court asked the duo to explain in two weeks as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them for violating a SC order.

Manzill submitted the petition today, saying the HC in March 2011 directed the authorities concerned to protect and maintain lands of SC amounting 55.5 acres, in accordance with law, and the Appellate Division later upheld the HC order.

He told The Daily Star that Shishu Academy has been occupying around four acres of SC land in violation of the apex court order.

A legal notice was served to the duo on March 8, asking them to handover the land to the SC in line with the court order in four weeks, but they did not take any step in this regard, Manzill added.