Instead, Justice Hasan Ameen referred the matters to a regular bench of the Appellate Division of the SC for hearing tomorrow.

He came up with similar decision on another appeal against the HC order that declared businessman Abdul Awal Mintoo's detention illegal and granted him bail.

Earlier on Thursday, the government filed appeals with the court of Chamber Judge Hasan Ameen, seeking stay on the HC rulings that came in response to three writ petitions--two filed by Awami League (AL) President Hasina and another by Mintoo.

Additional Attorney General Salahuddin Ahmed stood for the state while Barrister Rafique-ul Huq for Hasina, also a former prime minister now detained on extortion charges.

Coming out of the session, Rafique told reporters that the court has rejected the government's prayer for a freeze on the HC order regarding Hasina's petition.

He said the ACC must follow some procedures for issuing a notice seeking someone's wealth statement but it did not do so in case of the AL chief. "So, the notice on her is illegal," he added.

The ACC served a notice on the AL president on July 17, a day after her arrest.

An HC bench comprising Justices Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury on August 7 granted bail to Hasina in an extortion case filed by businessman Noor Ali and ordered the government not to have her tried under the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

It also asked the caretaker administration to reply within four weeks why its approval of the case being brought under the emergency rules should not be adjudged illegal.

The same day it also stayed operation of the ACC instructions for Hasina to declare wealth and directed the anti-graft body to explain in four weeks why its order shall not be declared illegal.

Besides, it declared illegal the confinement of former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo and granted him bail. The proceedings of another pre-emptive detention order against him under the Special Powers Act too were halted.