Staff Reporter :
The HC on Tuesday stayed the recruitment process in the 466 driver posts in the department of government transport.
The HC Bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard.
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and advocate Abdus Sattar Palwan appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners.
Department of government transport published a circular on January 10 this year in different newspapers for recruiting in various posts including 466 drivers. But the circular was published violating a HC judgement delivered on October 3 in 2018, said advocate Abdus Sattar Palwan.
That is why the aggrieved party filed a contempt of court petition in the HC against publisher of the circular and sought HC direction to stay the circular. Upon hearing the petition, the HC stayed the effectiveness of the circular and issued a rule.
In the ruling the court asked the transport commissioner (additional secretary) Md Mizanur Rahman and director (road/marine) of the department Ahmed Faisal Imam to show cause as to why a contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for not complying with the court’s October 3 order.
The lawyer said, “A total of 28 drivers had been working in different upazila nirbahi offices after being recruited on a master roll basis. Without making their job permanent, the department of government transport published two circulars on August 8 in 2017 and on September 20 in 2017 to recruit drivers.”
“Then 28 drivers filed a writ petition challenging the circulars issued on August 8 in 2017 and on September 20 in 2017. Upon hearing the writ petition, the HC on October 3 in 2018 declared the circular illegal and ordered the transport department to recruit the 28 drivers permanently before issuing any new circular.”
But the authority was not complying with the HC verdict. Then 28 drivers filed a contempt of court petition on August 19 in 2020. During the hearing on the contempt petition the HC asked the petitioners to wait for further recruitment circular so that they can come to know about the vacant posts.
The transport department published a new circular on January 10 this year. Then the drivers again moved to the HC with contempt petition. Upon hearing the HC stayed the circular and issued contempt ruling.
