SC judgment on 15th amendment appeals today

The Supreme Court (SC) is set to deliver its verdict today (Thursday) on appeals against a High Court (HC) judgment that declared parts of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution 'unconstitutional and void, reports agencies.

"Hearing is concluded and judgment tomorrow," said the short order passed by the four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury on Wednesday.

The 15th amendment of the constitution was placed in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on June 30, 2011, and a gazette was published on the amendment on July 3 in 2011.

The amendment had brought changes to 54 provisions of the constitution, including the abolition of the caretaker government system.

The HC pronounced its judgment on December 17, 2024, declaring the scrapping of the caretaker government system in the constitution as 'illegal'.

HC also restored the provision of a referendum in the constitution.

Four eminent citizens of the country, including the General Secretary of SUJON (Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik), Badiul Alam Majumder, filed a writ petition before the HC in August 2024, challenging the legality of the 15th amendment.

Freedom Fighter Md Mofazzal Hossain from Naogaon filed the other writ in this connection.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Miah Golam Parwar filed another petition on behalf of his party.

Senior Advocate Sharif Bhuiyan appeared before the court on behalf of four individuals, including Majumder. Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazol and Additional Attorney General Barrister Aneek R Haque represented the state. Senior Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami. Advocate ASM Shahriar Kabir represented another appellant.