DHAKA, July 16, 2024 (BSS) - The government has filed a leave to appeal petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court judgment that restored quotas in government jobs.

 “We filed a leave to appeal petition challenging the High Court judgment over the quota system. The Apex Court will give order to this end after holding a hearing,” Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told reporters at his office today.

On July 10, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) issued a status quo on the High Court judgment that declared illegal a 2018 government circular abolishing the quota system in the ninth to 13th grades of government jobs.

The apex court short order asked all the parties to maintain the status quo over the matter with some observation and directions.

The apex court came up with the order after holding a hearing on separate pleas filed by the state and two students of the University of Dhaka against the High Court judgment.

Earlier, a High Court division bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat pronounced the judgment on June 5, paving the way for reinstating the 30 percent freedom fighter quota in government service.

 The court came up with the judgment, declaring absolute a rule issued earlier.

The government in 2018 through that circular said direct recruitment in all government jobs in 9th grade (old first class) and from 10th to 13th grade (old second class) will be completely based on merit, abolishing the existing quota system.

Seven people, including Muktijoddhar Sontan o Projonmo central command council president Ohidul Islam Tushar, filed the writ with the High Court, challenging the legality of the circular.

The High Court after that issued the rule asking the authorities concerned to reply as to why the circular shall not be declared illegal.