Dhaka, Jan 16 – The High Court will deliver its order on Thursday on a writ petition filed challenging the legality of oath-taking of lawmakers elected in the December 30 polls last year.
After completion of hearing, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal yesterday fixed the date for delivering its order on the petition.During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told the court that oath-taking of the persons elected in 11th national polls violated articles 123(3) and 148(3) of the constitution, as the tenure of the 10th parliament is yet to expire.
The five-year tenure of the 10th parliament was supposed to end on January 28, he added.
On the other hand, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam opposed the writ petition, saying that the petition is not acceptable as the petitioner is neither an elected lawmaker nor he contested the December 30
election.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Taherul Islam Tawhid had on Monday filed the writ petition seeking HC’s directives to revoke the oath of the MPs of the 11th parliament, citing they were sworn in illegally before the expiry of the 10th parliament.
The Speaker, Chief Election Commissioner and Cabinet Secretary have been made respondents.
As per the writ, the Speaker administered oath to the new MPs on January 3 following the publication of a gazette which is the violation of section 123(3) of the constitution as they were sworn in before the expiry of the 10th parliament. – Staff Reporter
