Dy Iwaring ol the two writ petitions regarding the en masse resignation of 147 op position members of part la merit began yesterday before a three-man bench of the High < ourt

Die special bench compels ■ ng Justice AM Mahmudur Rahman Justice Kazi Ebadul Huq and Justice Md Abdul Karim was constituted by the Chief Justice on .January 29 upo<> applications fifed by op position leaders Sheikh Hasina Moudud Ahmed and Matiur Rahman Nizami all re spondents ui the writs

The stils were filed by Towliq Hossam and Alauddin

Khaled ctudk ngiug the valid Ily ol the MPs resignations and the Speaker s delay In dis |M>sMig M the resignation let tees respectivelv

The special bench was scheduled to take up the writs lor hearing al 10:30 am but It was delayed because of the traditional Irhc nation pio gramme for the new Chief Justice M H Rahman earlier in the inurniug

As hearing began at 2 pm Advocate Moksudur Rahman, the counsel for petitioner Fowfiq Hossain plated tor two weeks time to prepare a reply io ilie Hirer affidavit m oppo

sitlon which ne received yesterday from the three respondents.

Lawyers of the respondents Barrister KS Nabi, Barrister Abdur Razzaque and Barrister Moudud Ahmed himself opposed the prayer and said that filing of such reply was not necessary since the writ mat' ter was' related to the Constitution which needs interpretation by the court.

The court rejected the prqyer for time after hearing arguments for and against for a long time.

During the arguments, the respondents lawyers pointed out i hat the slay order for 10 days on the Speaker, issued by a two-member High Court bench, was found missing from the written order. They sought vacation of the stay order. They maintained that indefinite period of the stay would create further complications and constitutional crisis.

The court rejected the verbal prayer for vacating the stay and decided to continue the hearing which resumes this morning.