Appellate Division issues status quo on HC verdict

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered a 4-week status quo on the High Court order that reinstated the quota system for Freedom Fighters' children.  

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan passed the order on Wednesday during the hearing of two appeals against the High Court order. 

The next date of hearing was fixed on 7 August. 

On June 5, a High Court division bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat declared illegal a 2018 government circular abolishing the 30 per cent quota system for the Freedom Fighters' children in the ninth to 13th grades of government jobs.

They pronounced the judgment after a writ petition by Freedom Fighters' children, paving the way for reinstating the 30 per cent freedom fighter quota in government service. 

The Appellate Division after the hearing told the state to file a leave to appeal petition after the release of the full text of the High Court judgment that was pronounced on June 5, 2024.  

On July 4, the Appellate Division upheld “for now” the High Court judgment. 

Meanwhile, on July 9, the petitioner side employed a new lawyer and applied for a hearing. In light of the circumstance, Appellate Division Chamber Judge Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam fixed 10 July (Wednesday) to hold the hearing.