Chamber court upholds Salam’s candidacy

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a High Court order that on December 18 okayed the candidacy of Major General (retd) MA Salam, the ruling Awami League's candidate from Mymensingh-9 constituency.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the SC, passed ‘no order’ after hearing a petition filed against the High Court order by another candidate of the constituency.

Lawyer Probir Neogi who appeared in the court proceedings on behalf of MA Salam said the High Court asked the returning officer to accept the nomination paper of his client and to allocate him a symbol.

In the meantime, MA Salam has got his symbol to contest the polls. The Chamber Judge issued ‘no order’ in response to a petition filed by Anwarul Abedin, another candidate of the constituency, against the High Court order. As a result, the HC order was upheld and the candidacy of MA Salam remained.

The RO declared MA Salam’s candidacy legal after the scrutiny. Anwarul Adedin Khan appealed to the EC against the decision of RO. On December 15, the EC rejected Salam's nomination, citing allegations of being a loan defaulter.

Finally, MA Salam filed a writ petition with the High Court. Following the petition, the High Court on December 18 overturned the Election Commission's decision to cancel the nomination of MA Salam.

Anwarul Abedin Khan then filed a petition challenging the HC order. After hearing the petition, the Chamber Judge passed ‘no order’ on it.

Lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Anwarul Abedin Khan, while lawyer Probir Neogi appeared for MA Salam.

Meanwhile, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, an independent candidate from Barishal-5 constituency, on Wednesday again filed a petition with the Chamber Judge’s court seeking restoration of his candidacy.

The Chamber Judge on December 19 stayed for eight weeks a High Court order that overturned the Election Commission's decision to cancel the nomination of independent candidate Sadiq Abdullah.

However, the candidate filed a new petition seeking cancellation of the Chamber Judge’s decision, said his lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan.

The EC cancelled his nomination papers on the ground that he has dual citizenship. Following a writ petition, the HC on December 18 stayed the EC order and asked the commission to allow Sadiq Abdullah to contest the election.

The HC bench of Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice Md Bashir Ullah passed the order following a writ petition filed by Sadiq Abdullah challenging the EC decision.

Following a petition filed by Zahid Faruk, Awami League candidate from the same constituency, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the SC stayed the HC order.

Following the apex court Chamber Judge's latest order, Sadiq Abdullah cannot contest the national election scheduled to be held on January 7, said lawyer Ahsanul Karim who appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Zahid Faruk.

[email protected]