FE REPORT
The High Court is set to deliver its verdict today (Tuesday) on two separate writ petitions challenging the legality of the 15th amendment of the Constitution, which abolished the non-party caretaker government system and introduced significant changes to the charter.
The petitions have been listed as Case No. 1 and 2 in Tuesday's cause list of the HC bench, consisting of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury, who are set to deliver the judgement.
On December 5, the bench fixed December 17 as the date for announcement of judgement after concluding hearings on the petitions. The court has heard arguments on the petitions for 12 working days.
One of the writ petitions was filed by Mofazzal Hossain, a freedom fighter from Narayanpara, Naogaon.
The HC bench led by Justice Farah Mahbub on October 19 issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the Constitution (15th Amendment) Act, 2011, should not be declared unconstitutional. It also questioned as to why actions taken under the amendment should not be invalidated.
Earlier, on August 19, another HC bench led by Justice Naima Haider, who is currently on leave, issued a similar rule following another writ petition filed by five citizens.
The petitioners included Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik, along with Dr Tofail Ahmed, M Hafizuddin Khan, Md Jobirul Hoque Bhuiyan, and Zahrah Rahman.
Parliament passed the 15th constitutional amendment on June 30 in 2011 and the President approved the bill on July 3 in 2011. The then Awami League government scrapped Caretaker Government system through the amendment and gave constitutional recognition to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the father of the nation.
The amendment also increased reserved seats for women in Parliament from 45 to 50. It also restored 'secularism' and 'freedom of religion' and incorporated nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism as the fundamental principles of the state policy.
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