The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday directed a High Court bench to dispose of petition by May 31, which was filed over the legality of collecting information from the tenants by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).On March 27, in response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Iqbal Kabir issued a rule asking the government to explain by a week why the provision of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rules and Regulations 2006, under which the DMP has been collecting information about residents of Dhaka metropolitan area, should not be declared unconstitutional and illegal.
In response to a petition filed by the government seeking a stay on the HC rule, the four-member bench of Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha directed the HC bench led by Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury to dispose of the ruling by May 31 through holding hearing.
The DMP on February 29 announced that it had been collecting “identification information” about landlords and tenants since November last year and asked all to provide such information by March 15.
After that the DMP has distributed “registration forms” to house owners for collecting details, along with photograph, of their tenants.
Lawyers moved with the HC on apprehension that the information might be misused and city dwellers were also concerned about the matter.
On March 13, another HC bench rejected another petition that sought an order to stop the collection of tenants’ information, saying that the DMP was allowed to take any step under DMP rules and regulations, 2006, to prevent terrorism and militant activities in the city.
Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque Tutul said that a High Court bench had rejected a petition on it and another bench issued a rule. There can’t be two decisions on one matter and that’s what we pointed out. Hence, the apex court directed the HC to dispose of the petition, he added. – Staff Reporter
