The High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition seeking a directive to enact a new law titled the "Prevention and Suppression of Violence Against Men Act."

The order was passed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury after hearing the petition.

The writ was filed in May by Supreme Court lawyer Kazi Eliasur Rahman, founding chairman of Butterfly Human Rights Foundation, along with the organisation's founding member Md Khalilur Rahman. Kazi Eliasur Rahman argued the petition himself.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Deputy Attorney General Md Jasidul Islam Jony represented the state during the hearing.

In the petition, the petitioners argued that enacting a "Prevention and Suppression of Violence Against Men Act" would help ensure equality before the law and prevent the alleged misuse of the existing Women and Children Repression Prevention Act against men.

The writ sought a rule asking why the government's failure to enact such a law should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority. It also requested a directive compelling the authorities to introduce the proposed legislation to protect men from what the petition described as unnecessary harassment through the alleged misuse of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Pending disposal of the rule, the petition also sought an interim order directing the government to enact the proposed law.

The Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Law Secretary were made respondents in the writ petition.