The High Court (HC) on Tuesday directed Viqarunnisa Noon School and College authorities to admit 41 students, siblings of the students who are already studying there, to class 1.

The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order after hearing the writ petition filed by the parents of the 41 students.

Senior lawyer ABM Altaf Hossain and lawyer Shafiqur Rahman appeared for the writ petitioner while Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar stood for the state.

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Lawyer Altaf Hossain said if the admission seekers’ siblings are already studying in the institution, then the respective admission committee will verify the application and take necessary measures for their enrollment as per the Private School, School and College (Secondary, Lower Secondary and Attached Primary Level) Students Admission Rules, 2022.

As per the provision, siblings of 41 students applied for admission to class 1 of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

But on January 16, the Ministry of Education issued a circular stating that only an additional 5 percent of the total seats in any institution including the entry class can be filled with the applicants whose siblings are already studying in that institution for the 2023 academic year.

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The writ petition was filed challenging the legality of thes circular.

The HC also issued a rule seeking explanation as to why this provision of the Ministry of Education will not be revoked.