HC rule on appointing DCs as returning officers

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) has issued a role asking why the Election Commission’s decision to appoint deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners as returning officers should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir came up with the rule on Wednesday after hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Abdur Rahman challenging the legality of the EC’s decision.

The Election Commission secretary has been asked to respond the rule within three weeks.

Petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Saqeb Mahbub said the EC cannot appoint DCs as the returning officers throughout the country as per the article 4 of the Representation of People Order (RPO).

Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said there is no legal bar for the DCs and divisional officers to discharge election duties as ROs following the HC rule as it did not pass any stay order.


risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 12, 2018/Mahadi/Mukul