HC declares gazette on minimum age of freedom fighters illegal

The High Court (HC) on Sunday declared illegal an amended gazette notification issued determining minimum age of freedom fighters’ (FFs’) 12 years six months till 30 November 1971.

A High Court division bench comprising justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order, disposing of a rule issued earlier in this regard.

The High Court in its order also declared unconstitutional the definition of a “valiant Freedom Fighter” by setting up an age limit by section 2. 11 of Freedom Fighters’ Welfare Trust Act.

The High Court earlier issued the rule asking the concerned authorities to explain why the amended gazette notification shall not be declared beyond legal authority.

The court had asked liberation war affairs ministry, its secretary, joint secretary, power and energy secretary, finance secretary, Jatiya Muktijoddha Command Council director general and director general of geological survey department to respond.