Ctg-12 By-polls
HC asks EC to allow Jalal to contest
The High Court yesterday directed the Election Commission (EC) to allow Jalal Uddin Ahmed, an independent candidate, to contest the Chittagong-12 (Anwara-Pashchim Patiya) by-election slated for January 17.
The returning officer of Chittagong on December 23 cancelled his candidature saying that Jalal had not showed at least one percent support of voters of his constituency in his nomination paper.
On December 26, the EC upheld the returning officer's decision after rejecting an appeal submitted by Jalal challenging the returning officer's decision.
Yesterday, the HC stayed for three months the EC's decision and issued a rule upon it to explain in three weeks why its decision should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed came up with the order and rule after holding hearing on a writ petition filed by Jalal on January 2 challenging the legality of EC's decision.
In his petition, Jalal said he had submitted documents to the EC about the support of more than one percent voters of his constituency along with his nomination paper, but the EC cancelled his candidature illegally.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments