The High Court (HC) cancelled the recruitment of three teachers at the crop science and technology department of Rajshahi University (RU) for alleged violation of rules and regulation. The HC bench of Justice Ashraful Kamal and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil delivered the verdict on Wednesday after hearing a writ petition filed by Prof. Md Ali Asgar, a RU teacher of the crop science department, challenging the legality of the circular for the recruitment of teachers. Jyotirmoy Barua, lawyer of Porf. Ali Asgar, said the HC declared illegal the recruitment circular and appointment of the three teachers as the varsity authorities had violated the university ordinance in publishing the circular.

"The court has also asked the varsity authorities to appoint three teachers at the department within next one month in accordance with the earlier circular that had been bypassed. The process should start after they receive a written copy of the verdict. On July 30 last year, the RU authorities issued another circular in which the qualifications of candidates were relaxed without consent from the department’s planning committee. This prompted Prof. Asgar to file the writ petition in August last year," he explained. Deputy attorney general Kamruzzaman said: "Whether or not to file an appeal with the Supreme Court (SC)    would be decided after talking with the RU authorities."

According to the previous circular, students having master’s degrees on plant pathology, genetics, and plant birding, as well as agronomy and agricultural extension courses, would be allowed to apply for the posts. The minimum CGPA 3.50 was fixed for the requirement by the department’s planning committee.  The current university administration added the agricultural chemistry course in the circular and relaxed the CGPA from 3.50 to 3.25 without the consent of the department’s planning committee and republished the circular on July 30, 2019.

At the 497th syndicate meeting of RU, held at vice-chancellor Prof. M Abdus Sobhan’s house on January 26,  three teachers were appointed at the crop science and technology department. The appointed teachers are Rezvi Ahmed Bhuiyan, Shamsunnahar, and Mukhtar Hossain. As per the RU Act 1973, the planning committee shall deal with (a) expansion of the department and (b) appointment of teachers. The act also states that the planning committee will make recommendations to the university in creation of posts, filling up of sanctioned posts, and fixing of qualification requirements for appointment of teachers. But the varsity authorities issued the new circular for three vacant posts without consulting the committee.