News Desk : dhakamirror.com
The Supreme Court chamber judge today stayed till June 5 a High Court verdict scrapping the provisions in a law that gave sweeping powers to upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to act as the chief executive officer and secretary of upazila parishads.
The chamber judge of the SC’s Appellate Division, Justice M Enayetur Rahim, passed the order following three separate petitions filed by the state seeking stay on the HC verdict.
Following the SC chamber judge’s order, Section 33 (1) and (2) of the Upazila Parishad Act-1998 will remain upheld and effective, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury told The Daily Star.
He said the apex court chamber judge passed the order as he argued that Sections 33 (1) and (2) of the Upazila Parishad Act are not contradictory with the constitution.
Section 33 (1) of the act says UNOs will be the chief executive officers (CEOs) of upazila parishads and they will give all secretarial assistant to the parishads.
According to Section 33(2) of the act, the CEOs will implement the decisions of the parishads, comply with the financial disciplines and do other functions as per the rules.
Following three separate writ petitions, the HC on March 29 scrapped sections and ruled that the terminology “Upazila Proshason” cannot be used under the Upazila Parishad Act. The term “Upazila Parishad” will be used from now on instead of the Upazila Proshason.
Senior lawyer Ajmalul Hossain appeared for the writ petitioners during hearing today.
– With The Daily Star input
