HC issues rule on ACC Act clause

The High Court issued on Wednesday a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why a clause in the Anti Corruption Commission (Amendment) Act to penalise someone for providing false information will not be declared cancelled and unconstitutional, reports UNB.

The Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, the secretaries to the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister's Office and Law Ministry and the ACC chairman have been made respondents to the rule.

An HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the rule following a writ petition.

Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand filed the petition on Sunday in the form of Public Interest Litigation.

A new clause 28© was incorporated in the ACC (Amendment) Bill passed in Parliament on November 11 last year.

The provision says if anyone provides the commission with false information regarding any corrupt suspect, he/she will be sentenced to a minimum two years' and maximum five years' imprisonment.

While talking to reporters, the petitioner said no one will come forward to provide information if this law remains in force.  "Besides, the corrupt possess huge wealth. They can trap the information giver by turning truth into lies by dint of money.  Moreover, the ACC will take action against anyone after verifying the information."

Earlier on January 30, the High Court cancelled another clause of the ACC Act that required the graft watchdog to secure government approval before filing cases against government servants, judges and magistrates.