SC orders quick disposal of HC rule

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the High Court on Sunday for expeditious disposal of its previous rule issued halting the by-election to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), reports UNB.

A four-member appeal bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after disposal of the leave-to-appeal filed by Election Commission (EC) challenging the High Court order.

EC lawyer Towhidul Islam said the Appellate Division assigned the HC bench, led by Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore, for quick disposal of the rule.

The process for holding the elections to DNCC will remain halted until the rule is disposed of, the court added.

On February 1, the EC filed a leave-to-appeal with the apex court seeking stay on HC's order that halted the process for holding the elections to DNCC for six months.

Later on February 22, the SC fixed Sunday (February 25) for hearing on the leave-to-appeal in response to a time petition filed by EC.

The High Court on January 17 stayed the elections to the DNCC, including the by-election to its mayoral post for six months.

The order came after the hearing on two separate writ petitions filed with the HC seeking stay on the upcoming by-polls to the DNCC mayoral post.

The by-polls to the DNCC mayoral post and its 18 councillor posts, while that to 18 other councillor posts of the DSCC, were scheduled to be held on February 26.

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant with the death of Annisul Huq on November 30 last year.