Election Commission Clarifies Procedure for Appealing Nomination Rejection
The Election Commission (EC) has clearly outlined the procedure for appealing against decisions on acceptance or rejection of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliament Election. If a candidate’s nomination papers are rejected or if there is an objection to the acceptance of another candidate’s nomination, an appeal must be filed with the EC following the prescribed rules.
The directive was issued in a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md Arifur Rahman of the Law Branch-2 of the EC Secretariat. The letter states that appeals against the Returning Officer’s decisions must follow the process outlined in clause 19 of previously issued Circular-2.
Key Rules for Filing an Appeal
- Designated Booth: The candidate or their representative must submit the appeal at the designated booth for the relevant region.
- Prescribed Format: The appeal application must be submitted using the ‘Appendix-Ka’ format provided by the EC.
- Time Limit: The appeal process must be completed within the timeframe specified in the EC’s schedule.
The EC Secretariat has also requested all Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, and Regional Election Officers across the country to inform candidates about these guidelines so they can file appeals on time and in the prescribed manner.
As in previous elections, a special bench and booths will be set up at the EC Secretariat for this election. The Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners will hear the appeals and deliver decisions.
