Dhaka, Dec 17 (V7N) — The High Court has declared the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished the caretaker government system, as illegal. A High Court bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury delivered the landmark verdict on Tuesday.

In its observations, the court stated that the Fifteenth Amendment had undermined the basic structure of the Constitution, particularly destroying the electoral system and disempowering the people. The bench emphasized that the caretaker government system was founded on political consensus and had become a fundamental element of the Constitution.

The verdict follows a long 23-day hearing, after which the High Court reserved its decision on December 5.

The 15th Amendment Act, passed on June 30, 2011, and gazetted on July 3, 2011, abolished the caretaker government system and brought significant changes, including increasing reserved seats for women in Parliament from 45 to 50. The amendment also made unconstitutional seizure of power a crime of treason, punishable by the highest penalty.

The court's ruling comes as a major development in the country’s political and legal landscape, potentially reshaping the future electoral framework and constitutional discourse.

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