Dhaka: The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking the government to explain why the schedule for holding District Council election, slated for December 28, should not be declared illegal and illegitimate.

An HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah issued the rule following a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer.

It also issued another rule asking why sections 4 (2), 17 and section 5 (amendment) of the District Council Act should not be declared contradictory to the constitution.

Secretaries to the Cabinet, Law Ministry, Local Government Ministry and Chief Election commissioner have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.

On November 20, the Election Commission announced December 28 for holding district councils elections across the country, except three CHT districts.

According to section 4 (2) of District Council Act-2000, the chairman, members and female members will be elected by electoral bodies while in section 17 of the Act it is said city corporations mayor, counsillors, upazila parishad chairmen, vice chairmen, municipality mayors and counsilors and union parishad chairmen and members will be made electoral body members for selecting chairman and members for the respective districts.

On November 29, Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akond filed a writ petition with the HC saying the section 4 (2), 17 and section 5(amended) of District Council Act are contradictory to the constitution.

Deputy attorney general Tapash Kumar Biswas said a writ was filed challenging the legality of some specific sections of the act.