Dhaka: The High Court on Monday rejected the writ petition seeking an order to the government to cancel the gazette on the Election Commission (EC) formation.

An HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Haque and and Md Mohammad Ullah passed the order after hearing the petition.

Earlier, on Monday, Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a writ petition seeking cancellation of the gazette on the Election Commission (EC) formation.

The writ also sought an order staying the oath-taking programme of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other election commissioners, reports UNB.

In the petition, Eunus said no retired person can be reappointed according to the Public Servants (Retirement) Act 1974.

But the government has appointed retired persons, including its chief Nurul Huda, as EC members violating the law.

The Secretary of Ministry of Law, the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, the CEC and EC members have been made respondents to the writ.

On February 6, President Abdul Hamid constituted the new Election Commission (EC) making former secretary KM Nurul Huda the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

He also appointed four new election commissioners — former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, ex-secretary Rafiqul Islam, ex-district and session’s judge Begum Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.