An appeal has been made at the high court for the suspension of the declaration of electoral schedule until a ruling over nomination of independent candidates is resolved.

On Tuesday, advocate Dr Yunus Ali Akand placed the appeal to the joint bench of justices, Sheikh Hassan Arif and Ahmed Sohel.

At this time, the court told the lawyer to place the appeal after the upcoming holiday on Oct 1.

In February 2011, the Election Commission, EC, declared through gazette that an independent candidate can only be given a nomination with signatures of one third voters.

The rule stated: the independent candidate has to submit voter support form from the area where s/he will contest; in the form, the candidate will include information of one third voters and get their signatures.

The writ challenging this rule has not been resolved; a ruling was issued by a joint bench in 2014, asking why such a clause should not be cancelled.

The Chief Election Commissioner, CEC, secretaries of law and home were asked to respond to the rule which has not happened as yet.

Currently, the rule is waiting to be heard by a bench led by justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury.