SC adjourns hearing on freedom fighters' minimum age till 12 Mar
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today adjourned till 12 March its hearing on an appeal challenging the High Court judgment that declared illegal the government circulars and gazette notifications regarding minimum age of freedom fighters.
"Heard in part and adjourned to 12 March," said a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman took part in the hearing today for the state, while Barrister Omar Sadat argued for the writ petitioners.
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The government in 2014 issued a circular fixing the minimum age of freedom fighters at 13 years in 1971. A gazette notification was issued in this regard on November 10, 2016. But the government on 31 January 2018, amended it, fixing the minimum age of freedom fighters at 12 and a half years in 1971.
Freedom fighters, meanwhile, in 2016, 2017 and in 2018, filed separate writ petitions, challenging the circulars and gazette notifications. The High Court on 19 May 2019, passed its judgment, declaring illegal the circulars and gazette notifications and part of the section 2 (11) of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust law and contradictory to the constitution.
The Liberation War Affairs Ministry and Jatio Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) filed leave to appeal petition against the High Court judgment and the apex court allowed the plea and imposed a status quo on the verdict.
