Dhaka: The High court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain why the formation of a committee for scrutinising freedom fighter list should not be declared illegal.

An HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan issued the rule following a writ petition.

 The Liberation War Affairs secretary, director general of Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JMC) and other authorities concerned have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in two weeks.

Lawyers Hasnat Quaiyum, Mesbah Uddin Ahmed and Sharif Humayun Kabir stood for the petitioner.

Hasnat said the government issued a circular for scrutinising the list of freedom fighters through an advertisement in a national daily on December 12 last and the government issued another circular on January 5 for changing the schedule for scrutinising the FF list.

He said when the gazette giving recognition to FFs was published then it was recognised as the final list, and it can be repealed through legal procedure only on specific allegation after investigation.

‘But, the JMC has no right to scrutinise all the gazette listed freedom fighters’, Hasnat added.

Nine freedom fighters filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the JMC directives issued for scrutinising the list of freedom fighters.