Legality of polls schedule without dissolving JS challenged

A Supreme Court lawyer today filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of the schedule for holding the 11th parliamentary election without dissolving the parliament.

Advocate Eunus Ali Akond submitted the petition praying to the HC to stay the schedule issued by the Election Commission (EC) on November 12 for holding the election on December 30.

In the petition he said, "The general election will be held within 90 days after the parliament is dissolved as per article 123 (3) of the constitution, but the EC has announced the election schedule for holding the election on December 30 while the current parliament is running."

He said in the petition, as per article 12 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and article 66 (2)(cha), a person holding the post of profit in the service cannot be qualified for contesting the parliamentary election. Many parliament member who are taking remuneration from the state are reportedly contesting the ensuing parliamentary election.

Therefore, the upcoming election cannot be held keeping the parliament upheld, he said in the petition.

Eunus Ali told The Daily Star that, the HC may hold hearing on the petition tomorrow.