The High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain why it should not compel the brides and grooms to submit their medical certificates of blood test to the authorities concerned before marriage registration as well as why a dope test will not be made mandatory before job appointments.
The court also asked the respondents to show cause why it should not be mandatory for couples to submit certificates on Thalassemia and dope test results before marriage.
Secretaries to the Cabinet division and ministries of law and health, director general of department of health services, director general of department of narcotics control and the inspector general of police have been ordered to respond.
The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md KhairulAlam came up with the rule after hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Sayada Shahin Ara Laily, seeking the court’s order to take necessary steps for blood test marriages in order to check whether they are diagnosed with Thalassemia or addicted to drugs.
The public interest litigation (PIL) petition was filed on July 5.
It says if Thalassemia-affected persons get married, their children might be disabled.
On the other hand, addiction to drug causes impotency and that one of the reasons behind divorces is impotency caused by drug addiction.