HC rule to remove ambiguity in Children's Act section

The High Court (HC) issued on Monday a rule asking the government to explain as to why its inaction to remove the ambiguity in section 81 of the Children's Act-2013 should not be declared illegal, reports UNB.

Following a writ petition, an HC bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir also wanted to know why the authorities should not be directed to publish a gazette notification on the act after clearing the ambiguity.

Cabinet, Home, Law, Information and Technology, and Women and Children Affairs secretaries and chairman of Bangladesh Press Council were made respondents to the rule which is returnable in two weeks.

Supreme Court lawyers Kamal Hossain Miaji, Ashfaque Rahman and Miftaul Alam filed the writ petition.

Barrister Hasan MS Azim who stood for the petitioners said as per the section 81, no report, photograph or information relating to the trial or proceedings under this act shall be published in any print or electronic media or any medium of internet which is against the interest of the child and which may identify the child directly or indirectly.

"However, nothing is mentioned about what will happen before filing of any case," he said.

the writ petition was filed seeking the High Court order to remove the ambiguity as per section 97 of the act which stipulates: "Where there is any ambiguity in relation to the implementation of the provisions of the act, the government may issue clarification by notification in the official gazette subject to its being consistent with the provisions of the act."

Azim also said the images of children were published in a recent incident in Chittagong which made them mentally depressed.