HC sets June 17 for hearing on ‘July Charter’ implementation, referendum legality

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Update Time : Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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The High Court (HC) has scheduled June 17 for the hearing on a ruling questioning the legality of the ‘July National Charter Implementation Order’ and the recent referendum ordinance.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury fixed the date on Monday following preliminary proceedings on the matter.

Earlier, the court had issued a rule challenging the constitutional validity of the referendum, its results, and the implementation order of the ‘July National Charter’ (Constitution Reform Ordinance 2025).

The rule also questioned the legality of the February 16 letters inviting individuals to take the oath as members of the proposed Constitution Reform Council.

The court sought to know why the implementation order of the charter and the oath invitations should not be declared contradictory to the Constitution and subsequently annulled.

Additionally, the rule demanded an explanation as to why Section 3 and the schedule of the Referendum Ordinance should not be declared legally unauthorized for conflicting with constitutional provisions.

The respondents, including the Law Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, Parliament Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Election Commission, and the Chief Election Commissioner, were directed to reply to the rule within four weeks.

The initial rule was issued on March 3 by a High Court bench consisting of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam, following the preliminary hearing of two separate writ petitions challenging these governance reforms.