HC rule for blood test before marriage
The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why it should not compel the brides and bridegrooms to submit their medical certificates of blood test to the authorities concerned before marriage registration.
In the rule, the court also asked the respondents to show cause as to why it should not be mandatory for the brides and bridegrooms to submit certificates on Thalassemia and addiction tests before marriage.
The Cabinet Secretary, Senior Law Secretary, Senior Health Secretary, Director General of Department of Health Services, Director General of Department of Narcotics Control and the Inspector General of Police have been made respondents to the rule.
The HC Bench of Justice J B M Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Sayada Shahin Ara Laily, a Supreme Court lawyer, seeking its directive upon the respondents to take necessary steps for blood test of the brides and bridegrooms before their marriages in order to examine if they are affected by Thalassemia or addiction.
The lawyer submitted the petition as a public interest litigation on July 5. Citing the petition, Laily’s lawyer Advocate Md Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan told if Thalassemia-affected persons get married, their children might be disabled.
On the other hand, addiction to drug causes impotency, he said adding that various divorces take place for impotency caused by drug addiction.
