Dhaka, 01 Feb – The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday filed two separate leave-to-appeal petitions with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court (HC) order that halted the process for holding by-election to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor election.The EC petitions say that the writ petition on which the High Court stayed the election process is misconceived and not acceptable.
It has been learned that the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hussain will hold hearing on the leave-to- appeal petitions on Sunday.
Earlier, responding to two separate writ petitions, the High Court on January 17 stayed for six months the process of Dhaka North City Corporation polls that was scheduled to be held on February 26. The court (HC) had also asked to explain the legality of the schedule of the DNCC mayoral by-polls and the elections to 18 new wards under the city corporation on February 26.
The court also issued two rules asking the authorities of the Election Commission and the government to explain in four weeks as to why the schedule should not be declared illegal. – Special Correspondent
