Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a High Court order that asked the government to ensure security to all upazila parishad chairpersons with gunmen like that of the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) across the country.
The apex court also asked the HC to dispose of the rule in which the High Court questioned the relevant rules of the Upazila Parishad Ain, 1998, that has placed the UNOs above upazila chairpersons. A full bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order following a petition filed by the state challenging the HC order.
Following a writ petition the High Court in September directed the government to provide security to all upazila parishad chairpersons with gunmen like that of the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) across the country.
The court also asked the authorities concerned to put up signboards reading “Upazila Parishad Office” instead of the existing “UNO Office” on the gates of all upazila parishad offices.
The HC Bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzaaman passed the order on September 7 after hearing the writ petition filed by three upazila parishad chairmen, including Md Abdul Aziz of Patuakhali’s Dasmina upazila, seeking necessary directives.
The court also issued a rule questioning the relevant rules of the Upazila Parishad Ain that has placed the UNOs above the upazila chairpersons.
Lawyer Mohiuddin Md Al-Amin who appeared in the High Court hearing said that the HC delivered the order on the ground that the upazila chairpersons are the representatives elected by the people and therefore, they need to be given proper security and dignity under the relevant provisions of law and Constitution.
Later a petition was filed by the local government, rural development and co-operative ministry’s secretary against the High Court’s directive issued on September 7. After hearing on the petition, the apex court passed order on Tuesday.
Additional Attorney General Mohammad Mehedi Hassan Chowdhury and Deputy Attorney General Samarendranath Biswas appeared for the state.
