RPO clause regarding retired govt officials unconstitutional

A legal notice has been served on the bodies concerned of the government demanding scrapping of a clause of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972 that bars a retired government service holder from participating in the parliament election unless a period of three years has elapsed since the date of his/her resignation or retirement.

The clause is inconsistent with the Article 66 of the Constitution and breach of the Articles 11, 19 and 26 of the Constitution, said the legal notice.

Nurul Kader Sohel, an activist of Jatiya Party and also a resident of Bhairab upazila under Kishoreganj district, sent the legal notice through his lawyer Md Abdul Hai.

Cabinet Division Secretary, Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission Secretary, Parliament Affairs Secretary, Law Secretary, President Office Secretary, and others have been made respondents to the legal notice.

The respondents have been asked to take necessary measures to do justice to the retired persons giving them opportunity to participate in the national elections and deleting the clause 12(1)(f) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, within seven days from the date of the receipt of the notice.