Move to introduce MP admission quota challenged

The High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a writ petition that challenged a government move to introduce parliamentarians’ quota for enrollment at non-government schools until the government takes a final decision in this regard.

Rights organizations — Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and Ain O Salish Kendra jointly filed the petition based on a report published in The Daily Star on Monday with a headline “Admission quota for MPs” also seeking stay on the move.

Despite graft allegations against lawmakers centring school admissions, the government is set to introduce parliamentarians’ quota for enrolment at non-government schools across the country, according to the report.

The organisations in the petition challenged the legality of the government move and prayed to the HC direct the government to refrain from introducing the quota.

The petitioners urged the court to issue a rule upon the government to explain why its process to introduce quota for enrolment students at non-government schools across the country should not be declared illegal.

The education secretary and director general of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education have been made respondents in the petition.

After a brief hearing, the HC bench of Justice Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md Ruhul Quddus said that it will hear the petition if the government issues any circular introducing quota for MPs for enrolment at non-government school.

It also said that the government only discussed the issue, but did not take any final decision.

Advocate ZI Khan Panna appeared for the petitioners.

Source: The Daily Star