Supreme Court orders EC to return Jamaat's Registration

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today allowed a plea filed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging the High Court verdict that declared the party's registration illegal.

"The Civil Appeal No 139 of 2013 is allowed and Civil Petition No 3112 of 2013 is disposed of in the light of the judgment delivered in Civil Appeal," said the short judgment pronounced by a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.

The apex court, in its judgment, asked the Election Commission (EC) to dispose of pending issues of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, including its registration.

Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir had taken part in the hearing for Jamaat, while Advocate Touhidul Islam argued for the Election Commission (EC).

The Appellate Division on May 14 had set June 1 for pronouncing judgment on the plea filed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Earlier, the apex court on October 22, 2024, restored Jamaat-e-Islami's appeal against the High Court verdict, paving the way for the party to take part in the hearing on an appeal against the 2013 judgment that had declared its registration illegal as a political party.

The Appellate Division started its hearing on the plea on December 3, 2024. Jamaat's counsels in their arguments said the writ, which initiated the whole process to cancel Jamaat's registration, was politically motivated.

The High Court on August 1, 2013, declared illegal Jamaat's registration as a political party. A three-member greater bench of the High Court comprising Justice M Moazzem Hossain, Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Kazi Reza-ul-Huq delivered the judgment on majority. The judgment had said the registration given to the Jamaat by the Election Commission was beyond lawful authority.

The EC on December 7, 2018, issued the gazette, cancelling the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

The party later appealed against the High Court judgment. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, however, "dismissed for default" the appeal as the main counsel for the party was absent during the hearing.