High Court releases full verdict on quotas in govt jobs, state to appeal

The High Court has released the full verdict declaring the decision to abolish quotas in the first and second class government jobs as illegal.

A bench comprising Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat published the 27-page verdict on Sunday.

“The verdict is out, and we plan to file regular appeals,” Deputy Attorney General Sheikh Saifuzzaman told bdnews24.com.

“However, due to the status quo by the Appellate Division, the High Court’s verdict will not be effective until August 7th.”

The verdict clarifies actions taken by the High Court in 2012, subsequent appeals in 2013, and an office order issued in 2011 regarding quotas for freedom fighters’ children and grandchildren.

It also mandates the continuation of quotas for districts, women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and others.

It ordered the government to issue notifications within three months upon receipt of the order.

According to the judgment, the government has the authority to change, modify or increase the quota if it deems necessary. If the posts remain unfulfilled with candidates from the quotas, appointments can also be made based on merit.

The government abolished the quotas altogether in a notification in 2018 following widespread protests.

Seven people, including Ohidul Islam – the son of a freedom fighter – challenged the validity of that notification in the High Court in 2021 and the court recently reinstated the quotas, triggering similar protests.