Dhaka, May 5 -- The High Court has asked why a law that penalises only men for engaging in sexual relations under the promise of marriage, should not be declared unconstitutional.

The bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Syed Mohammed Tazrul Hossain issued the rule on Sunday after a preliminary hearing on a writ petition challenging the validity of Section 9(2) of the Prevention of Women and Children Repression (Amendment) Ordinance.

The secretaries of the Law and Justice Division, the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs have been asked to respond within four weeks.

The writ petition was filed on Apr 7 by lawyer Rashidul Hasan and the human rights organisation Aid for M...