HC asks why poll aspirants shouldn’t face drug test

The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain why dope tests should not be made mandatory for candidates contesting national parliamentary and all local government elections.

It also asked why electoral laws and regulations should not be amended to declare candidates ineligible if they test positive for drugs or refuse to undergo a dope test.

Responding to a writ petition, the vacation bench of the HC comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice Sheikh Tahsin Ali issued the rule.

A total of seven officials, including the cabinet secretary, law secretary, home secretary, local government secretary, chief election commissioner, election commission secretary and director general of the Department of Narcotics Control have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.

Supreme Court lawyer Israt Jahan Oni filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation and appeared before the HC on behalf of her petition.