The High Court today issued a rule upon the government to explain within four weeks why the appointment of Shahidul Haque to the office of additional secretary to the drafting wing of the law ministry should not be declared illegal.

The HC issued the rule upon a writ petition by a Supreme Court lawyer stating that Shahidul was appointed to the post ignoring a Supreme Court decision in this regard. The apex court on June 28, 2007 asked the law ministry to suspend the appointment to the post of additional secretary until reform process to this ministry is completed. But the caretaker government on November 11 last year appointed Shahidul promoting him from the rank of joint secretary.

Barrister KM Masum on August 30 filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation (PIL) with the HC challenging the legality of the appointment. After hearing the petition, a vacation bench of the higher court comprising Justice Nazmul Ara Sultana and Justice Obaidul Hasan Shahin issued the rule.