The High Court on Monday issued to rule asking the government to explain as to why the special provision of the ‘Child Marriage Restraint Act’ allowing underage marriage in special circumstances should not be declared illegal and contradictory to the Constitution.

An HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan issued the rule following a writ petition filed in the form of public interest litigation, reports UNB.

In the rule, the court also wanted to know from the authorities concerned as to why the provision should not be declared contradictory to the international agreements and conventions.

Law, and Women and Children Affairs secretaries were made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.

On February 27, the ‘Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2017’ was passed in parliament allowing marriage of both underage girls and boys in special cases.

Advocate Fawzia Karim Firoze, president of Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association, said the special provision is contradictory to the Constitution.