The High Court today wanted to know under what authority land secretary Md Maksudur Rahman Patwary has been holding the office and what steps have been taken against him after he confessed that his family members are using three cars of the land ministry.

The court issued a rule asking the government, Anti-Corruption Corruption and Patwary to explain in four weeks under what authority he has been holding office even after he reportedly confessed to the irregularities.

In the rule, the HC asked the government and ACC to show cause why they should not be directed to take appropriate legal action against Patwary.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also ordered the government and ACC to submit separate reports to this court in 45 days on what steps have been taken against Patwary.

The bench came up with the rule and order following a writ petition filed by a Md Habibur Rahman, a resident of Kadamtali of Jatrabari area in Dhaka, seeking necessary directives on this issue.

Petitioner's lawyer Jamiul Hoque Faisal told The Daily Star that Bangla daily Jugantor on October 22 published a report on the irregularities of land secretary Md Maksudur Rahman Patwary and his family members in using the cars of the ministry.

Patwary confessed to irregularities of using the government cars to the newspaper, saying that around 90 percent of the government secretaries use government cars.