Dhaka, Feb. 23 -- The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking why the Village Court Act, 2006, which empowers union parishad chairmen and members to exercise judicial powers, should not be declared null and void.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order after hearing a writ petition challenging the law's constitutionality.

The court directed the law secretary and other concerned respondents to submit their replies within four weeks.

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Advocate Ishrat Hasan represented the petitioner, who filed the writ on February 15 seeking annulment of the act as unconstitutional.

The petition argues that granting judicial powers...