A Supreme Court lawyer has challenged the post of Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury by registering a writ petition with the High Court yesterday.
Eunus Ali Akond filed the plea, arguing that a lawmaker who was not directly elected by the vote of the people should not be made the speaker as per the spirit of the constitution.
He quoted the Article 74 of the constitution as saying: “Parliament shall at the first sitting after any general election elect from among its members a Speaker,” adding that whenever the post becomes vacant that has to be filled by a directly elected lawmaker.
He also said Shirin was selected a lawmaker for the reserved seats by the ruling party and she was not eligible for the post of speaker.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin, parliament secretary, cabinet secretary and law secretary were made respondents to the petition.
The plea sought a rule why the gazette notification issued on April 30 stating Shirin, a lawmaker from the women’s reserved seats, as speaker should not be held unconstitutional. Pending disposal of the rule and stay over the execution of the notification were also sought in the petition.
When asked, Eunus told the Dhaka Tribune that though it was late by eight months he filed the plea to uphold the constitution, adding that he would try to move the petition with a vacation High Court bench, if not possible, after vacation.
The Supreme Court went on vacation from December 13 and will resume on January 2.
