High Court upholds DU decision

Bar on admission test for 2nd time

The High Court yesterday upheld the decision by Dhaka University authorities to bar admission seekers from sitting for the test for a second time.
Rejecting a joint writ petition by 26 guardians against the university’s decision, a bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Md Ezarul Haque Akondo observed that around half of the admission seekers, who have already got admitted to the university the previous year, sit for the test again to get their desired subjects.

Therefore, a good number of fresh admission seekers do not get a chance, the HC added.
The new system would come into effect in the coming academic session. DU counsel advocate AFM Mesbahuddin said following the HC order, only those who would pass HSC and equivalent examinations in the 2015-16 academic sessions can take part in the university’s admission test.
On the other hand, advocate Subrata Chowdhury, counsel for the petitioners, said, “We're aggrieved with the verdict. We'll file an appeal in the Supreme Court.”
A number of admission seekers broke into tears soon after the verdict. “We didn't get a chance in any university last year. We were making preparations for getting a chance at Dhaka University for a second time,” an admission seeker said.
The petitioners said the restriction on seeking admission a second time violated Articles 15, 17 and 19 of the Constitution that ensured the fundamental principle of equal opportunity for education. They had then filed the joint writ petition.
On March 17, the HC had issued a rule asking the government and DU authorities to explain why the decision of not allowing the admission seekers, who failed to qualify in the first chance, to sit for the test for a second time should not be declared illegal.
The court had also asked the authorities to explain why they should not be directed to cancel the decision as a violation of the “principle of natural justice” as well as fundamental rights of citizens.
The admission seekers have been waging a movement since the DU admission committee at a meeting on October 14, 2014 decided that students would be allowed to take the admission test only once, instead of twice as it was before. The university had later published a notification in this regard.
Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state during the hearing.

High Court upholds DU decision

Bar on admission test for 2nd time

The High Court yesterday upheld the decision by Dhaka University authorities to bar admission seekers from sitting for the test for a second time. Rejecting a joint writ petition by 26 guardians against the universitys decision, a bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Md Ezarul Haque Akondo observed that around half of the admission seekers, who have already got admitted to the university the previous year, sit for the test again to get their desired subjects. Therefore, a good number of fresh admission seekers do not get a chance, the HC added. The new system would come into effect in the coming academic session. DU counsel advocate AFM Mesbahuddin said following the HC order, only those who would pass HSC and equivalent examinations in the 2015-16 academic sessions can take part in the universitys admission test. On the other hand, advocate Subrata Chowdhury, counsel for the petitioners, said, Were aggrieved with the verdict. Well file an appeal in the Supreme Court. A number of admission seekers broke into tears soon after the verdict. We didnt get a chance in any university last year. We were making preparations for getting a chance at Dhaka University for a second time, an admission seeker said. The petitioners said the restriction on seeking admission a second time violated Articles 15, 17 and 19 of the Constitution that ensured the fundamental principle of equal opportunity for education. They had then filed the joint writ petition. On March 17, the HC had issued a rule asking the government and DU authorities to explain why the decision of not allowing the admission seekers, who failed to qualify in the first chance, to sit for the test for a second time should not be declared illegal. The court had also asked the authorities to explain why they should not be directed to cancel the decision as a violation of the principle of natural justice as well as fundamental rights of citizens. The admission seekers have been waging a movement since the DU admission committee at a meeting on October 14, 2014 decided that students would be allowed to take the admission test only once, instead of twice as it was before. The university had later published a notification in this regard. Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state during the hearing.