Court Correspondent :
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Monday stayed Government order that suspended Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury for six months.
A High Court Bench comprising Justice Syed Mohammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan passed the stay order after primary hearing on a writ petition filed by suspended Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Sunday.
The apex court issued rule asking the Government to explain within four weeks as to why the decision of authorities concerned including the Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Secretary and Home Secretary over suspension of Ariful Haqaue Chowdhury should not be declared illegal.
Besides, the HC also directed the authorities including also the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner not to create any obstruction to Ariful Haque in discharging his duties as the Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC).
The Ministry of LGRD suspended Mayor Ariful Haque after he was charged in a criminal case in 2015. He filed the writ petition challenging the suspension order. On January 7, 2015, he was suspended as he was allegedly involved in the killing of former Finance Minister SMA Kibria.
The mayor’s counsel Abdul Halim Kafi said after this order of the apex court, the Mayor can carry out his duties regularly.
Barrister Mainul Hosein stood for Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state.
