Don’t give ‘weighing scale’ to any party

SC writes to Election Commission

The Supreme Court yesterday wrote to the Election Commission, asking it not to allocate “daripalla” (weighing scales) as a symbol to any political party because it was used as the apex court’s monogram.
The SC letter to the commission’s secretary said it was unacceptable and unwanted if “daripalla” was used as an election symbol by a political party, organisation or person. It also asked the EC to immediately cancel the symbol’s allocation if it had already done so.
The letter was signed by Abu Sayed Diljar Hussain, registrar of the SC’s High Court division.
It said, “Confusion might be created among the people if “daripalla” is used as the symbol of any institution or political party, because it has already been used as the monogram of the apex court.”
The SC wrote to the EC in accordance with a decision of a full court meeting, which was held at the judges’ lounge of the apex court on Monday. Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha had presided over the full court meeting.
Those present at the meeting said all the Appellate Division and High Court Division judges consented to ask the EC not to allocate the weighing scale as an election symbol.
The meeting also decided to use the weighing scale with three chains as the monogram at the main building of the SC like the one at its annex building, sources added.
Contacted, EC Secretary Mohammad Abdullah confirmed that they have received the Supreme Court letter.
“We have received the apex court letter. We will take necessary steps in accordance with the Supreme Court directive. We will not give this symbol to any party or an independent candidate as election symbol to comply with the court order,” he said. 

The “daripalla” symbol was earlier allocated to Jamaat-e-Islami. But, the party lost the right to contest parliamentary elections after the HC declared its registration to be illegal.
The HC order had come following a writ petition challenging the legality of Jamaat’s registration. The plea was filed by Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, and 24 others on January 25, 2009. The petitioners contended that Jamaat was a religion-based political outfit, which did not believe in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
Following this, the HC had declared Jamaat’s registration as illegal on August 1, 2013.
On December 12, 2013, the Jamaat had filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the SC, seeking a stay order against the HC verdict. But the chamber judge did not pass any stay order and sent the matter to the Appellate Division for hearing. The apex court is yet to start a hearing on the Jamaat plea.

Dont give weighing scale to any party

SC writes to Election Commission

The Supreme Court yesterday wrote to the Election Commission, asking it not to allocate daripalla (weighing scales) as a symbol to any political party because it was used as the apex courts monogram. The SC letter to the commissions secretary said it was unacceptable and unwanted if daripalla was used as an election symbol by a political party, organisation or person. It also asked the EC to immediately cancel the symbols allocation if it had already done so. The letter was signed by Abu SayedDiljar Hussain, registrar of the SCs HighCourt division. It said, Confusion might be created among the people if daripalla is used as the symbol of any institution or political party, because it has already been used as the monogram of the apex court. The SC wrote to the EC in accordance with a decision of a full court meeting, which was held at the judges lounge of the apex court on Monday. Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha had presided over the full court meeting. Those present at the meeting said all the Appellate Division and High Court Division judges consented to ask the EC not to allocate the weighing scale as an election symbol. The meeting also decided to use the weighing scale with three chains as the monogram at the main building of the SC like the one at its annex building, sources added. Contacted, EC Secretary Mohammad Abdullah confirmed that they have received the Supreme Court letter. We have received the apex court letter. We will take necessary steps in accordance withthe Supreme Court directive. We will not give this symbol to any party or an independent candidate as election symbol to comply with the court order, he said. The daripalla symbol was earlier allocated to Jamaat-e-Islami. But, the party lost the right to contest parliamentary elections after the HC declared its registration to be illegal. The HC order had come following a writ petition challenging the legality of Jamaats registration. The plea was filed by Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, and 24 others on January 25, 2009. The petitioners contended that Jamaat was a religion-based political outfit, which did not believe in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. Following this, the HC had declared Jamaats registration as illegal on August 1, 2013. On December 12, 2013, the Jamaat had filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the SC, seeking a stay order against the HC verdict. But the chamber judge did not pass any stay order and sent the matter to the Appellate Division for hearing. The apex court is yet to start a hearing on the Jamaat plea.