HC questions legality of Zila Parishad polls schedule

The High Court today issued a rule upon the Election Commission and government to explain as to why the schedule for holding Zila Parishad election on December 28 should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why the relevant section of the law allowing an electoral body to cast votes in the polls should not be scrapped.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond.

READ MORE: Zila Parishad: First ever polls; AL to win it

The court said it would hold hearing on a similar pending rule, which was issued in 2000 along with the today’s rule.

Akond filed the writ petition on November 29 seeking a stay on holding elections to district councils (zila parishad) scheduled for December 28.

He submitted the petition also challenging the legality of three provisions of the district council law including the one for election system.

The cabinet secretary, law secretary and chief election commissioner have been made respondents to the rule.