Court's door always open for quota protesters: Chief Justice

Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan has said the court's doors are always open for the students protesting the reinstatement of the quota system in government jobs. 

"Advice those protesting quota, why do they talk about (the government's) executive division? Any decision of the executive division can be challenged in court. The court's doors are always open for quota protesters," he said during a hearing at the Supreme Court's Appellate Division on Thursday. 

"Quota protesters can voice their demands through a lawyer. We will listen to it sincerely," he added. 

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.  

On Wednesday, the Appellate Division ordered a 4-week status quo on the High Court order.