The High Court yesterday stayed for six months the decision of Bangladesh Press Council's Judicial Committee that censured one of the seven reports The Daily Star published between January and April last year on different issues of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

It also stayed for the same period the committee's order that asked The Daily Star to fully print and publish its decision in 15 days. 

At the same time, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of Bangladesh Press Council and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to explain why the Judicial Committee's decision and order should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir delivered the order and rule following a writ petition filed by The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, challenging the Judicial Committee's judgement and order on the ground of legal error.

Bangladesh Press Council's chairman, its judicial committee's chairman, its secretary, vice chancellor of BSMMU and Proshanto Kumar Majumder, section officer of Registrar office of BSMMU, were made respondents to the rule.

During hearing on the petition, petitioner's lawyer Shahdeen Malik told the HC that the Press Council Act 1974 mandates the entire Press Council to make the decision, not any of its committee.

The Press Council Regulation 1980 made under the Press Council Act 1974 requires the Judicial Committee to place its draft report to the Press Council for its approval, but the committee did not comply with the legal provisions, he argued.

Advocate Manzur Alam assisted Advocate Shahdeen Malik during the hearing.