HC questions legality of Monira Sharmin's nomination cancellation
The court directed the secretary of the Election Commission and other relevant parties to respond to the rule within four weeks
The High Court issued a rule asking why the Election Commission's decision to cancel the nomination of Monira Sharmin, a candidate for the reserved women's seats in the 13th National Parliament, should not be declared illegal.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury passed the order today (6 May).
The court directed the secretary of the Election Commission and other relevant parties to respond to the rule within four weeks.
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Senior lawyers Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu, and Advocate Muzahedul Islam Shahin appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
Monira Sharmin, a joint convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), was nominated by the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance for one of the 13 reserved seats allocated to the bloc.
Her nomination was initially cancelled by the returning officer on the grounds that she had not completed the mandatory three-year period following her resignation from a government job.
The Election Commission (EC) later upheld this decision during an appeal hearing.
On 4 May, another High Court bench consisting of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar had expressed an inability to hear Monira's writ petition challenging the EC's decision.
This led to the filing of the petition before the current bench.
The legal development comes on the same day that Nusrat Tabassum Jyoti, who was nominated by the NCP following Monira's initial disqualification, was sworn in as a member of parliament after securing a High Court order in her own favour.
