Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday fined two more private universities Tk 1.0 million each for violating a provision of University Grants Commission (UGC) in admitting students in the Law Department.
The private universities are: International Islamic University Chattogram (IIUC) and Sylhet Metropolitan University.
The authorities of the universities have been asked to deposit the amount in the account of Bangladesh Bar Council, the licensing and regularity body for all advocates of Bangladesh.
After showing the deposit slip in the Bar Council, the 56 students of the two universities will be allowed to appear in the Bar Council test scheduled to be held on February 28 this year, said the court.
A three-member Bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after disposing of two appeal petitions filed by Bar Council.
Advocate AY Moshiuzzaman and Advocate SM Kafil Uddin appeared in the court on behalf of Bangladesh Bar Council, while Advocate Zainul Abedin appeared for the students of International Islamic University Chattogram and Barrister ABM Altaf Hossain for Sylhet Metropolitan University students.
As per the UGC provision, a private university can’t admit more than 50 students in LLB program in one semester. But 11 private universities including the two private universities violated the provision.
Recently the 56 victim students of the two universities filed two writ petitions with the High Court to get registration cards for Bar Council test. After hearing, the High Court directed to Bar Council to give opportunity to the students to appear in the test.
Later Bar Council appealed against the High Court orders and after hearing the Appellate Division on Thursday summoned the Vice-Chancellors of the two universities to appear in the court and fixed Sunday for passing order.
