Status quo on HC verdict: Circular cancelling FF quota upheld

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has issued a status quo on a High Court verdict that declared the decision to cancel quota system, including the first and second-class freedom fighter (FF) quota in government jobs, illegal.

As a result of this order, the circular issued by the government in 2018 cancelling the freedom fighter quota will be upheld, lawyers said.

A five-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order on Wednesday (July 10).

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin stood for the state, while Adv Shah Manzurul Haque was present on behalf of the petitioner during the hearing on the issue.

The hearing was initially scheduled to start at 10am, but the time was later changed by the Appellate Division.

On Tuesday, the writ petitioner appointed a new lawyer and applied for a hearing in the special chamber court. Chamber Justice Ashfaqul Islam subsequently fixed Wednesday for the hearing.

As the full verdict has not yet been published, the chamber court specifically ordered the status quo.

On July 4, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s verdict.

On June 5, the High Court declared illegal the circular that cancelled the quotas, including those for freedom fighters, in first and second-class government jobs.

As a result, the 30 per cent quota for freedom fighters in government jobs will remain in place.

On October 4, 2018, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular to implement the cabinet’s decision to abolish the existing quota system for direct recruitment to first and second-class posts in government jobs.