Dhaka, March 3 -- The High Court has issued a rule asking why the July National Charter Implementation Order and the Referendum Ordinance should not be declared illegal.

The panel of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anowarul Islam passed the order on Tuesday after holding a preliminary hearing on two writ petitions.

The cabinet secretary, law secretary, secretary of the Parliament Secretariat, principal secretary to the prime minister and the chief election commissioner, among others, have been asked to respond within four weeks.

The writ petitions were filed on Monday by Supreme Court lawyers Chowdhury Md Redwan-E-Khuda and Gazi Md Mahbub Alam, challenging the legality of the two instruments.

Lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syed Mamun...