HC dismisses writ challenging Women Affairs Reform Commission recommendations

The High Court has dismissed a writ petition that challenged the legality of some controversial sections of the recommendations made by the Women Affairs Reform Commission.

The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi passed the order today (26 May) after a hearing on the petition, which was filed by lawyer Rowshan Ali.

In its observation, the court termed the writ premature because the recommendations have not been implemented, and the government has not created or amended any law considering the recommendations.

The court also observed that the petitioner can come to the court if the government implements the recommendations.

The ministries of women and children affairs, law, and religious affairs, and the reform commission chairman were made respondents to the petition.

In the writ, the petitioner had said some recommendations made in the report go against the Islami shariah laws and hurt the religious sentiment.

Some sections of the report also clash with the Constitution, and this is why the writ was filed, as the issue is very important and sensitive for the nation, according to the writ.

Through the writ, the petitioner urged the High Court to issue a rule asking why Sections 3, 4, 6, 10, 11 and 12 of the reform commission's report will not be declared illegally drafted and outside the jurisdiction of the country's laws.

The writ also called for an expert committee to rewrite the commission's recommendations in the future. Furthermore, the writ sought a stay order on the implementation of the recommendations.