TDS Desk:

The High Court has given the final verdict reinstating of quota in first and second-class government jobs and declaring the 2018 circular invalid issued by the Ministry of Public Administration.

On Sunday, the High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Khizir Hayat released the full 27-page verdict. The verdict was published on the Supreme Court’s website after being signed by the judges.

In the 27-page full judgment, the court said that the government can change the quota system.

Earlier, on October 4, 2018, in the face of the agitation, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular cancelling the quota system from 9th to 13th grade in government jobs. At that time the quota for freedom fighters in government jobs (9th to 13th grade) was 30 per cent. Besides, there were 10 per cent women, 10 per cent district, 5 per cent minorities and 1 per cent disabled quota. 56 per cent in all.

In 2021, seven people, including Ahidul Islam, the son of the heroic freedom fighter, filed a writ challenging the validity of the government’s circular cancelling the quota. The High Court ruled on the preliminary hearing of the writ on December 6, 2021. After the final hearing, the High Court declared the rule absolute on June 5.

Later, the plea filed by the state seeking a stay of the High Court’s verdict came up for hearing in the full bench of the Appellate Division through the Chamber Court on July 4. The Appellate Division adjourned the hearing on that day when the writ petitioner requested time. In addition, the state party is regularly asked to apply for leave to appeal. In this situation, two students applied on July 9 to suspend the High Court’s verdict regarding quota restoration.

The appeal filed by the two students and the state was placed to the Appellate Division on July 10 for a hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Appellate Division ordered the parties to maintain the status quo regarding quotas in government jobs. This order is given with some observations and instructions. Referring to this status quo for four weeks, the Appellate Division fixed August 7 as the next day.

However, the leaders of the ‘anti-discrimination student movement’ announced to continue the movement by rejecting the court order. They are observing the ‘Bangla Blockade’ program from 3:30 pm on July 11.