United News of Bangladesh

The government has appointed 96 more candidates who had long been deprived despite passing the 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification on Wednesday appointing them to different BCS cadres following recommendations by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC). Earlier, on December 18 last year, the ministry appointed 673 candidates from the 27th BCS nearly two decades after they won a prolonged legal battle. The newly appointed officials have been asked to join their respective cadre-controlling ministries or divisions by May 18. If no further instruction is issued by the authorities concerend, they must join on that date. According to the notification, failure to join within the stipulated time will be considered as unwillingness to accept the appointment and the appointment order will stand cancelled. The notification also said the appointments will be considered effective retrospectively from the date the first appointment notification for their batch was issued in order to preserve their seniority. Their notional seniority will remain effective from the joining date mentioned in the original batch notification. However, they will not be entitled to any arrear financial benefits as a result of the retrospective effect. The results of the first viva voce examination of the 27th BCS were published on January 21, 2007, during the BNP-led government, where 3,567 candidates passed. Later, on June 30 that year, the then military-backed caretaker government cancelled the viva results over allegations of irregularities and corruption during the state of emergency. The successful candidates challenged the cancellation in the High Court, but on July 3, 2008, the court upheld the government’s decision. The petitioners later filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Appellate Division against the verdict.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the appointment of 1,137 candidates who were disallowed to join jobs through the 27th BCS about 17 years back. A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed delivered the verdict after hearing three separate petitions in this regard. Defence lawyer Salah Uddin Dolan said that following the verdict the candidates will be able to join the job with appropriate seniority. The court also ordered to take them in within 90 days, he said. Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state and lawyer Mohammad Khalequzzaman stood for the Public Service Commission during the hearing in the court. During the 1/11 caretaker government, the decision was made to cancel the first viva exam in the 27th BCS, and a second round of viva was conducted. Reform Commission recommends completing BCS exam within one year However, those deprived of recruitment submitted a writ challenging the second viva. In 2008, a High Court (HC) bench declared the cancellation of the first viva result as valid. However, in 2009, another HC bench declared the second viva to be illegal. Meanwhile, 25 candidates deprived of recruitment filed two leave-to-appeal petitions in the Appellate Division against the first verdict. Furthermore, the government submitted three leave-to-appeal petitions against the second verdict. After some observations, the Appellate Division resolved the government's leave-to-appeal petitions and delivered its verdict in 2010. The Appellate Division upheld the HC’s ruling, validating the decision to cancel the first viva examination. Govt appoints 267 assistant commissioners from 43rd BCS Following a review petition against the Appellate Division's verdict, the leave to appeal was granted. Three separate appeals were filed on behalf of 1,137 candidates deprived of recruitment last year. After hearing the appeals, the Appellate Division handed down the verdict today.