HC asks Govt, EC to explain barring teachers from polls

The High Court (HC) has ordered the government and the Election Commission to explain why barring teachers, of MPO educational establishments, from contesting polls should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional, reports bdnews24.com. brThe chief adviser, the chief election commissioner, the president's secretary, the cabinet secretary and the law secretary have been asked to reply to the rule nisi within two weeks. brAn HC bench of justice Mirza Hossain Haider and justice Mamnun Rahman passed the order Tuesday on a writ petition filed by Rajshahi Ideal Degree College lecturer and former ward commissioner Abdus Samad.brTajul Islam, the petitioner's lawyer, told the hearing that three ordinances, regarding local government polls to city corporations, municipalities and upazilas, barred teachers of non government educational institutes on monthly payment orders from applying for candidacy in those elections. brThe election seeks honest and qualified candidates. Teachers have these qualities, Islam said. brHow can the commission ensure the participation of good candidates if the teachers' candidacy is banned by the ordinances he asked. brHe added that the caretaker government could not take any decision out of line with the constitution.