Leave to appeal filed against HC verdict on quota reinstatement
FE REPORT | Wednesday, 17 July 2024
The government on Tuesday filed a leave-to-appeal petition against a High Court verdict that declared illegal a 2018 circular abolishing all job quotas, including that for freedom fighters.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin updated the media on the filing of the petition by his office.
He said the petition would come up for hearing in the apex court on August 07, a date set by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
"We have sought cancellation of the High Court verdict in the appeal petition," said the chief law officer of the state further.
"We have argued that keeping or cancelling quotas in public service is a policy decision of a government. So, it's a not a matter to be decided by the court."
According to Mr Amin, the government has nothing to do at this moment without the final decision of the Appellate Division. Those still in agitation are doing so for some other purpose.
On July 14, the HC released the full verdict that declared illegal the government's quota abolishment-related circular issued in 2018.
According to the 27-page HC verdict released on the Supreme Court's website, the government can reform the quota system, if and when necessary.
The judgement directed the government to maintain all types of quota in all government jobs. However, it has given an option to reform or revise the quota system.
According to the HC, "This judgment won't create any bar to the respondents if they change, reduce or increase the ratio or percentage of the quotas…"
The respondents are at liberty to fill any vacant post from the merit list if any quota is not fulfilled in any recruitment test.
The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat delivered the verdict after hearing a writ petition filed to this end.
The short announcement of the verdict was delivered on June 05 this year.
Meanwhile, the Appellate Division on July 10 directed the parties concerned to maintain the status quo for four weeks concerning the quota system in class one and two government jobs.