DHAKA: The High Court Thursday rejected the writ, filed challenging the legality of an electoral rule which allows lawmakers to be elected uncontested.

An HC bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Hyder and Justice Muhammod Khurshid Alam passed the order.

Lawyers said that 154 lawmakers, who were elected uncontested in last January 5 polls, are legal.

Following a writ of Jatiya Party vice chairman Khandakar Abdus Salam on December 17 last year, HC issued a rule on February 17, 2014 upon the election commission and government to explain in 10 days why the Article 19 of the RPO should not be declared unconstitutional.

The Article 19 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) reads that the Election Commission can issue a gazette notification declaring any lone candidate elected in a constituency if there is no other contesting candidate.

BDST: 1258 HRS, JUNE 19, 2014