HC halts EC notification on new party registration, issues rule

The High Court (HC) has halted a public notification issued by the Election Commission (EC) on new party registration notice.

The court also issued a rule asking the authority concerned to explain why the 10 March notification will not be declared illegal and subsequently scrapped as it is based on regulations that contradict the constitution.

The HC bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja passed the order on Tuesday (March 18).

Earlier, the Election Commission issued the public notice on March 10, inviting applications for registration of new political parties. Supreme Court lawyer Hasnat Kayyum filed a writ petition challenging the public notification.