Guidebook ban to stay
The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday cleared the way for enforcement of the ban on printing, publishing, import, distribution and sale of guidebooks and notebooks for primary and secondary school students.
The apex court upheld the High Court (HC) verdict that allowed the government to take action in case of violation of the ban.
A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin gave the judgement dismissing a leave to appeal petition against the HC verdict.
The government enacted a law in April 1980 imposing the ban.
The education ministry on December 10 in 2007 issued an order to all deputy commissioners to take steps, including formation of mobile courts, to enforce the law.
President of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association Md Abu Taher filed a writ petition with the HC in February last year challenging legality of the order.
The HC next month dismissed the writ petition and upheld the government order.
Later, the SC chamber judge stayed the HC verdict following a petition filed by Abu Taher.
Contacted, Attorney General (AG) Mahbubey Alam mentioned that private firms then continued to print, publish and sell guidebooks and notebooks.
Last month, Taher filed a regular leave to appeal petition with the SC against the HC verdict.
The apex court yesterday dismissed the leave-to-appeal petition since it was filed 613 days after the HC gave its verdict, the AG said.
Petitioner's counsel Abdur Rab Chowdhury said they would now file a petition with the SC seeking review of its judgement.
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