The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of the government's holding Junior School Certificate (JSC) examination.

It issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain in four weeks why its decision to hold JSC exams should not be declared illegal.

An HC bench of Justice Quamrul Islam Siddique and Justice Razik-AI-Jalil came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition that challenged the legality of the decision to hold JSC exams.

Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond submitted the writ petition on July 27, saying the government was empowered under the Intermediate and Secondary Education Ordinance 1961 only to hold secondary and higher secondary certificate examinations.

The government is not allowed to hold JSC exams, he said, adding that school teachers were engaged in coaching business due to the introduction of the exam.

The petitioner also prayed to the HC to cancel the government notice issued on June 15, 2010 on holding ISC exams.