High Court: Why should abolition of caretaker govt not be declared illegal?

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking why the abolition of the caretaker government system through the 15th Amendment of the Constitution should not be declared illegal.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by five individuals, including Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN).

The court also asked the government to respond within eight weeks.

Lawyer Dr Sharif Bhuiyan represented the petitioners in court, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman argued on behalf of the state.

The 15th Amendment to the Constitution was passed on June 30, 2011, and received presidential consent on July 3, 2011.

This amendment reinstated secularism and religious freedom in the Constitution and added nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism as state principles.

Through this amendment, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also recognized as the Father of the Nation.

Additionally, the caretaker government system was abolished. The number of reserved seats for women in the national parliament was increased from 45 to 50.

Two new clauses, 7(A) and 7(B), were added after Article 7 of the Constitution, which aimed to prevent any unconstitutional seizure of state power.

The bill was passed with a vote of 291-1, amidst a boycott by the opposition party, BNP.