Bangladesh News

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in three weeks why the provision for one candidate contesting from more than one seat in parliament at a time should not be declared ultra vires of the constitution.

Responding to a public-interest litigation writ petition filed by a lawyer, an HC division bench issued another rule on the government to show cause why the provision of Tk 5 lakh –the highest ceiling for a candidate’s election expenditure –should not be declared inconsistent with the Representation of the People Order 1972.

In his petition advocate Moinuddin Farooqui submitted that at present an eligible candidate can contest from five parliamentary seats at a time.

“After the election, the candidate would have to keep only one constituency leaving out the remaining seats,” the petitioner stated, pointing out a discrepancy here with regard to spending for the elections.

He said the candidate can spend maximum Tk 5 lakh for one constituency. But when one contests from five seats at a time in that case there is no prescribed law regarding the expenditure against these seats. “This has created an inconsistency.”

Mohammad Ali moved the writ petition.