SC adjourns hearing on freedom fighters' minimum age till Mar 12

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has adjourned till March 12 its hearing on an appeal challenging the High Court judgment that declared illegal the government circulars and gazette notifications regarding the minimum age of freedom fighters.

"Heard in part and adjourned to March 12," a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed said on Tuesday.

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman took part in the hearing today for the state, while Barrister Omar Sadat argued for the writ petitioners.

The government in 2014 issued a circular fixing the minimum age of freedom fighters at 13 years in 1971. A gazette notification was issued in this regard on November 10, 2016. But the government on January 31, 2018, amended it, fixing the minimum age of freedom fighters at 12 and a half years in 1971.

Freedom fighters, meanwhile, in 2016, 2017 and 2018, filed separate writ petitions, challenging the circulars and gazette notifications. The High Court on May 19, 2019, passed its judgment, declaring illegal the circulars and gazette notifications and part of section 2 (11) of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust law and contradictory to the constitution.

The Liberation War Affairs Ministry and Jatio Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) filed leave to appeal petition against the High Court judgment and the apex court allowed the plea and imposed a status quo on the verdict.