HC to deliver verdict on 15th amendment Tuesday

The High Court is set to deliver the final verdict on Tuesday (17 December) on a writ petition challenging the legality of the 15th amendment to the constitution, which abolished the caretaker government system.

Earlier on 5 December, the bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury set the date after concluding hearings on the petition.

On 19 August, the High Court asked the government to explain why abolishing the caretaker system should not be declared illegal, after hearing the petition filed by Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN), and four others.

Later, extensive hearings were held over several dates including 30 October, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 20, 25, 27 and 28 November, and 1 December.

The 15th amendment to the constitution was introduced during the Awami League government, with the bill passed on 30 June, 2011, and a gazette published on 3 July, 2011.

The amendment abolished the caretaker government system and increased the number of reserved seats for women in parliament from 45 to 50.