SC restores caretaker government system

The Supreme Court has declared invalid the widely debated verdict that abolished the non-partisan caretaker government system during elections. By upholding the 13th Amendment of the Constitution as valid, the country’s highest court has restored the caretaker government system.

The full bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the judgment on Thursday. Earlier, on November 11, the Appellate Division had fixed Thursday (November 20) to pronounce its verdict on an appeal challenging the previous ruling that abolished the non-party caretaker government system for national elections.

On August 27, the Appellate Division had granted leave to appeal against its 2011 judgment, which had declared the 13th Amendment—which introduced the caretaker government system—unconstitutional. The court passed the order after hearing multiple review petitions seeking reinstatement of the 13th Amendment and revival of the caretaker system.

A total of four review petitions were filed—by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, five prominent citizens including SUJAN Secretary Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, and another individual petitioner. All petitions were heard together. 

Earlier, on December 17, 2024, the High Court had declared the abolition of the caretaker government system unconstitutional.