The Supreme Court (SC) has fixed January 26 for hearing the leave-to-appeal petition challenging the High Court’s previous verdict on the legality of Section 19 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which allows unopposed election of lawmakers.

The petition also includes a plea for introducing a "no vote" provision in the RPO.

Chamber Judge Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division set the date on Tuesday (Yesterday) following the petitioner’s appeal against the High Court verdict.

Senior lawyer Sharif Bhuiyan, assisted by lawyers Nazib Huda and Khandaker Didar-us-Salam, represented the petitioner in court.

The case originated in 2013 when former Jatiya Party vice-chairman Khandaker Abdus Salam filed a writ petition challenging the constitutionality of Section 19 of the RPO. 

On February 16, 2014, the High Court issued a rule asking why the provision allowing lawmakers to be elected unopposed should not be declared unconstitutional.

However, on June 19, 2014, the High Court rejected the writ petition, upholding the validity of lawmakers elected unopposed. The court also dismissed separate writ petitions seeking the inclusion of a "no vote" provision in the RPO.

Recently, Khandaker Abdus Salam filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Appellate Division, challenging the High Court’s ruling.

BDST: 1647 HRS, NOV 20, 2024
MSK/SMS