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The High Court has issued a rule asking why dope tests should not be made mandatory for candidates contesting national parliamentary and local government elections.
The court also asked why electoral laws and regulations should not be amended to make candidates ineligible if they test positive for drugs or refuse to undergo a dope test.
A bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice Sheikh Tahsin Ali issued the rule on Monday following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Israt Jahan Oni.
The petition named the Cabinet secretary, law secretary, chief election commissioner and other concerned authorities as respondents.
The petitioner argued that the election rules should be amended to require candidates to undergo dope tests at government hospitals or certified laboratories to prevent people addicted to drugs from contesting elections.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Oni said current election laws and regulations contain no clear provision requiring candidates to undergo drug tests.
She noted that dope tests are required for certain government and police recruitment processes and argued that candidates seeking to represent people as lawmakers or local government representatives should also be subject to such testing.