MPs barred from school committee

No lawmaker will be allowed to head the governing bodies, said the full text of a recent High Court judgment released yesterday. The court also directed the government to take steps within two months to amend the related provision of Non-government School College Governing Body Regulation 2009 that allows lawmakers to chair governing bodies and management committees of non-government educational institutions. Earlier High Court in an order declared the provision invalid. The short order was delivered by the High Court bench of justices Zinat Ara and AKM Zahirul Hoque on June 1 on two separate petitions filed by Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond who challenged the legality of those provisions. The court in it’s verdict gave 12 instructions about the school and college committees, the lawyer told reporters. It said that lawmakers will not preside over any governing body or management committees and the special committees already formed without elections will be canceled. Within 60 days of receiving the copy of the verdict, the law and education secretaries and the Dhaka Education Board will take steps to amend the laws. The High Court scrapped section 5 and 50 that contain these provisions. On April 13 the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain within four weeks the legality of Section 5(50) and why it should not be declared unconstitutional. On January 19 the High Court issued another ruling questioning the legality of the a special governing body, led by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka. Eunus said the 2008 government circular had announced that the government could not run any institution which is on monthly payment order (MPO) by any special committee. Institutions must elect governing committees on their own. Deputy Attorney General Israt Jahan said the government will file an appeal against the High Court decision.