Quota reform: Govt files leave to appeal against HC verdict

The government, amid anti-quota demonstrations across the country, filed a leave to appeal against the High Court's verdict upholding the quota in the recruitment of government jobs.

The application has been filed in the relevant division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 16).

On July 11, the High Court ruled in favor of quotas, saying the government can change, increase, or decrease the rate if it deems necessary in the case of government recruitment.

Later, on July 14, the Supreme Court published a full judgment of 27 pages in this regard on its website.

The court declared the circular of 2018 invalid and said that the judgment and order given in pursuance of a writ filed in 2012, which was upheld and revised by the Appellate Division in view of leave to appeal in 2013 and the office order dated January 16, 2011, reinstated the quota for children/grandchildren of freedom fighters. 

The defendants were instructed to do so. Apart from this, it was directed to maintain quotas for districts, women, persons with disabilities, tribals-minorities, if any. It is directed to issue the circular as soon as possible in this regard, within three months of the order, according to HC rule.

This judgment shall not create any bar for the respondents to alter the quota, reduce or increase the ratio or percentage in respect of the said class, if necessary. If the quota is not filled in any public examination, the respondents are at liberty to fill up the vacant posts from the general merit list, HC’s rule further said.

Meanwhile, Students in different districts across the country took to the streets on Tuesday to protest recent attacks on students from various universities while they were demonstrating for quota reform.

Following the protest students of the North South University, Brac University, and Independent University, Bangladesh, United International University, this morning have blocked the capital’s Merul Badda road and the road in front of Jamuna Future Park, demanding quota reform and protesting attacks on students across the country.