1,650 agri officers cannot join office

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court order that issued status quo on recruitment of 1,650 deputy assistant agriculture officers on charge of irregularities in applying quota system in the appointment process.

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order, dismissing two leave to appeal petitions filed by the government, challenging the HC order.

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The apex court order means that the government cannot recruit 1,650 deputy agriculture officers, Additional Attorney General Murad Reza told The Daily Star.

Following a writ petition, the HC on February 16 issued status quo on recruitment of the officers -- whose exam results were published on January 17 -- for 30 days on charge of irregularities in applying quota system in publishing the final test results.

The HC also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why they should not be directed to conduct an inquiry into the allegations.

Secretaries to the ministries of agriculture and public administration, chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission and director general of Agricultural Extension Department were made respondents to the rule.

The HC came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by 33 candidates, who passed the written test but could not pass the recruitment tests, seeking its order on the respondents to conduct an inquiry into the allegations.

Writ petitioners' lawyer Salahuddin Dolon told The Daily Star yesterday the respondents could not recruit 1,650 candidates to the posts for 30 days from February 16, when the HC passed the status quo order.

The writ petitioners will now move a petition before the HC seeking an extension of its February 16 order, he said.

He said a circular was issued on January 23, 2018 for recruiting 1,650 deputy assistant agriculture officers.

The preliminary and written tests were held on August 2, 2018 and September 13, 2018 and the viva voce was held for 24 days between December 18, 2018 and January 14 this year, he said.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Additional Attorney General Murad Reza appeared for the government.