High Court asks why CEC shouldn't face contempt charges over party registration delay

The High Court has asked why contempt of court charges should not be filed against Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin for failing to comply with its directive to dispose of an application seeking registration of a new political party.

The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Asif Hasan issued a rule in this regard, directing the chief election commissioner to respond within four weeks.

The order came after Supreme Court lawyer Md Eunus Ali Akond filed a contempt petition, alleging that the Election Commission had ignored a High Court instruction issued on Aug 27, 2025.

Akond told the court that he had applied for registration of his proposed party, the Krishak Sramik Janata Party, through the prescribed process.

When the commission did not act on his application, he submitted it again. With no response forthcoming, he moved the High Court.

After hearing his petition, the court ordered the chief election commissioner to expeditiously dispose of the application.

Akand said that despite the passage of several months, the directive remains unimplemented.

Arguing his own contempt petition on Sunday, Akond said the continued inaction amounted to a wilful disregard of the court’s order.

“I applied to the Election Commission through due process for registration of a political party. When the commission did not accept my application, I applied again,” he said.

“After receiving no response, I filed a writ in the High Court. The court then ordered the Election Commission to accept my application. But that order has not been implemented yet. That is why I filed a contempt petition.”

Following the hearing, the court issued a four-week rule asking why contempt proceedings should not be brought against Nasir.

Akond said he is the convenor of the Krishak Sramik Janata Party.