SC hearing on Jamaat's appeal over registration adjourned till 21 Jan

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today adjourned the hearing on a plea filed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging the High Court (HC) ruling that declared the party's registration illegal, until 21 January.

A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order after hearing in part of the civil petition filed by the party.

Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir moved the plea before the court for Jamaat for the second day.

The Appellate Division started its hearing on the plea on 3 December 2024. Jamaat's counsels in their arguments said the writ, which initiated the whole process to cancel Jamaat's registration, was politically motivated.

The apex court on 22 October 2024, restored Jamaat-e-Islami's appeal against the High Court verdict, paving way for the party to take part in the hearing on an appeal against the 2013 judgment that had declared its registration as a political party, illegal. 

The High Court on 1 August 2013, declared illegal Jamaat's registration as a political party. A three-member greater bench of the High Court comprising Justice M Moazzem Hossain, Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Kazi Reza-ul- Huq delivered the judgment on majority.

The judgment said that the registration given to Jamaat by the Election Commission (EC) was beyond lawful authority.