Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court’s Chamber Judge on Sunday stayed for four weeks a High Court verdict that declared actor Zayed Khan’s candidacy in the General Secretary post of the election of the Film Artistes’ Association as legal.
Justice Obaidul Hassan, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC, however, directed the authorities concerned to maintain status quo in respect to hold the office of the General Secretary of the association till further order.
The Chamber Judge passed the order after hearing a petition filed by actor Nipun Akter, also a candidate for the post, challenging the HC verdict.
The court also asked Nipun to file a leave to appeal petition with the SC against the HC judgement in four weeks.
Zayed Khan’s lawyer Ahsanul Karim told the reporters that his client will continue holding the office of GS following the status quo order issued by the apex court Chamber Judge as he has already held the office and started working as GS of the association.
Meanwhile, Nipun’s lawyer Mustafizur Rahman Khan told the reporters that his client is the Secretary of the association as there is no effectiveness of the HC verdict now.
On March 2, the High Court declared as illegal an Appellate Board’s decision that cancelled the candidacy of Zayed Khan and also announced Nipun Akter as the newly-elected General Secretary of the Film Artistes’ Association.
The High Court bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman delivered the verdict after hearing a writ petition filed by Zayed Khan challenging the Appellate Board’s decision against him.
The election of the Film Artistes’ Association was held on January 28 this year. After the election, the commission declared actor Zayed Khan as the re-elected General Secretary of the association. Later Nipun made written representation to the Election Appellate Board against his main contestant Zayed Khan over breach of code of conduct.
On February 5, Sohanur Rahman Sohan, head of the Appellate Board, announced the disqualification of Zayed Khan through a press conference. He at the same time also declared Nipun Akter as the newly-elected General Secretary of the association.
In this circumstance Zayed Khan filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the Appellate Board’s decision against him. After primary hearing on the petition, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the Appellate Board’s decision should not be declared illegal.
After final hearing on the rule the High Court on March 2, declared the rule absolute, which means Election Appellate Board’s decision is illegal. Later Nipun filed petition against the High Court verdict.
Lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Nahid Sultana Juthi and Mujibul Haque Bhuiyan appeared in the hearing for Zayed Khan, while lawyers Rokanuddin Mahmud and Mustafizur Rahman appeared for Nipun Akter.
