13th Amendment
Long-pending hearing on appeal starts
The Supreme Court yesterday began hearing on a long-pending appeal against a High Court verdict that declared the thirteenth amendment to the constitution valid, which allowed general election under a caretaker government.
After a brief submission by the attorney general, the seven-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque adjourned the hearing till March 7.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told the court that the constitution has to be interpreted in a “broader way” following the SC verdict on the fifth amendment.
He sought some time for taking preparation to place submission in this case.
Following a writ petition, the HC on August 4, 2004 declared the thirteenth amendment to the constitution legal, and had observed that the changes through this amendment did not distort the basic structure of the constitution.
Advocate M Salimullah, the then general secretary of Association for Democratic and Constitutional Advancement of Bangladesh (ADCAB), filed the petition on January 25, 2000 challenging the thirteenth amendment.
After Salimullah died, advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, acting general secretary of ADCAB, appealed to the Appellate Division against the HC verdict.
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