The Supreme Court has paved the way for 3,173 candidates to join as junior instructors (technical) or physical education instructors (10th grade) in polytechnic institutes and technical schools and colleges across the country.
These candidates, selected through the Public Service Commission (PSC), were scheduled to commence their roles in technical educational institutions under the Technical Education Board on January 29. However, their appointments were halted when the High Court imposed a three-month stay on the recruitment process on January 27.
In a significant development, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a four-week stay on the High Court’s order, effectively allowing the recruitment process to proceed.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order in response to a petition filed by the state, which contested the High Court’s stay.
Along with staying the High Court’s order, the apex court directed the government to submit a police verification report on the selected candidates within three weeks. Additionally, it instructed the High Court to conduct a hearing and resolve the rule regarding the recruitment process within six weeks.
Following the ruling, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman confirmed to the media that there is now no legal impediment preventing the candidates from assuming their designated roles in technical education institutions.
The legal battle over these appointments stemmed from a writ petition filed by 18 candidates who were not selected in the recruitment process. Their petition challenged the fairness and legality of the selection procedure, alleging irregularities in the hiring process overseen by the Technical Education Board.
Representing the petitioners, Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Barrister Kayser Kamal argued before the court, emphasizing the alleged flaws in the recruitment process. In response, the High Court bench of Justice M. Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice K.M. Rasheduzzaman Raja issued a three-month stay on the appointments and sought an explanation regarding the legality of the recruitment procedure.
The PSC had initially announced the vacancies for non-cadre junior instructor and physical education instructor positions through a circular issued on October 26, 2021. The recruitment exams took place on March 18, 2023, followed by viva voce interviews conducted between May 25 and June 2, 2024. The final results were subsequently published on November 26, 2024.
On January 20, 2025, the PSC issued an official appointment circular, selecting 3,534 candidates for the roles, instructing them to report for duty on January 29. However, before they could join, the High Court’s intervention temporarily halted the recruitment process.
This decision led to legal action from the state, which appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court’s stay order. The recent ruling by the Appellate Division now provides relief to the appointed candidates and allows the recruitment process to move forward.
With the Supreme Court’s decision in place, the appointed candidates are expected to join their respective institutions soon, pending the submission of police verification reports and further legal proceedings in the High Court.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the recruitment process highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and fairness in government hiring. The final resolution of the case will depend on the High Court’s hearing and its decision on the rule regarding alleged irregularities.
As legal proceedings continue, the ruling has come as a major relief for thousands of candidates who had been left uncertain about their future due to the legal impasse.
