HC verdict: Caretaker govt system to be reinstated

The High Court has declared the 15th amendment to the Constitution partially invalid, clearing the way to reinstate the caretaker government system.

The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury pronounced this verdict on Tuesday as hearings concluded earlier this month.

On December 4, the court concluded the hearing of two writ petitions challenging the legitimacy of the 15th amendment.

Several political entities, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, were involved in the petitions, with most of them advocating for the reinstatement of the caretaker government system.

The 15th Amendment, passed by the ruling Awami League on June 30, 2011, formally abolished the provision of the caretaker government system. 

The amendment also included a provision imposing the death penalty for the unlawful usurpation of state power, categorising it as treason.

The amendment also altered the timeline for parliamentary elections, stipulating that elections must be held within 90 days after the end of a parliamentary term. 

Previously, elections were required to be held in the 90 days preceding the end of the term.

In total, the 15th Amendment introduced 55 major and minor changes to the Constitution.