SC reinstates 82 election officials sacked in 2007

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the government to reinstate 82 upazila election officers, who were terminated 18 years ago, in their posts with all facilities.

The apex court also asked the authorities concerned to give due benefits to the families of three other terminated upazila election officers, who have died, as per the relevant law.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the judgement after hearing an appeal and four separate review petitions filed challenging a verdict given by the apex court.

According to the case statement, the Public Service Commission appointed 327 candidates as upazila election officers on 03 September 2005.

Later, the military-backed caretaker government terminated 85 upazila election officers on 03 September 2007, following a controversy that they were appointed under political consideration.

Then, the candidates filed a case with the Administrative Tribunal against the government decision. The tribunal upheld the government decision on 23 March 2009.

Later, the candidates filed an appeal petition with the Administrative Appellate Tribunal, which on 12 April 2010 granted the appeal and asked the government to reinstate them in their posts.

The government then filed four leave-to-appeal petitions with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the decision of the Administrative Appellate Tribunal.

Following the petitions the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division on April 29 in 2010 stayed the decision of the Appellate Tribunal and sends the item to the regular Appellate Division bench for its detailed hearing.

Later, in 2011 the government filed regular appeal petitions against the decision of the Appellate Tribunal. The apex court on September 1 in 2022 allowed the appeals filed by the government and scrapped the verdict of the appellate tribunal.

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