The Supreme Court (SC) has cleared the way for appointing head teachers in nearly 32,000 government primary schools across the country.
The decision came after the apex court overturned a High Court (HC) verdict that had earlier struck down part of the seniority and promotion rules.
A four-member Appellate Division (AD) bench headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury delivered the verdict on Thursday, paving the way for the long-pending recruitment process.
Briefing reporters after the judgment, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal said the AD ruled in favour of the government, removing the legal complications surrounding the recruitment process.
"The appeal has been allowed. The legal complication over the appointment of 32,000 head teachers in government primary schools has now been resolved. The verdict will have a positive impact on primary education," he said.
He stated the HC judgment is no longer in effect, restoring the original provisions of the Acquired Non-Government Primary School Teachers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2013.
According to the rules, teachers who were directly recruited to government primary schools rank higher in seniority than those who entered the civil service after their non-government schools were nationalised.
The legal dispute dates back to 2017, when a group of teachers filed a writ petition with the HC, seeking seniority based on a gradation list that counted 50 per cent of their service period.
They also sought the head teachers' pay scale, along with various financial and administrative benefits.
The writ petition led to legal complications in the recruitment of head teachers.
sajibur@gmail.com