Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today adjourned its hearing on a plea challenging the High Court verdict that cancelled the recruitment process for 6,531 candidates as assistant teachers at government primary schools in the Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. The hearing has been rescheduled for tomorrow following a request from Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, who cited personal difficulties.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the hearing was initially set for today as Appellate Division Judge-in-Chamber Justice Md Rezaul Haque had set the date on February 18. However, the three-member apex court bench, led by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, has decided to postpone the hearing until tomorrow. Justice Md Rezaul Haque had previously forwarded the case to the Appellate Division’s full bench for further proceedings.
The apex court’s decision to adjourn follows a primary hearing on the civil petition filed by the director general of the Directorate of Primary Education. This petition challenges a High Court division bench’s verdict from February 6, which was delivered by Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi. The High Court’s judgment called for adherence to the Appellate Division’s latest verdict on the quota system and the publication of recruitment results anew.
The legal challenge was initiated by thirty candidates who filed a writ against the decision to publish lists of successful candidates. They accused the authorities of employing a quota system in recruiting candidates from the Dhaka and Chattogram divisions during the third phase of the recruitment process. The High Court responded by issuing a rule and staying the recruitment process for six months, later solidifying that decision with its judgment.