No bar to publish gazette: SC

The Supreme Court yesterday cleared the way for the government to publish the gazette notification on implementing the recommendation of ninth wage board for journalists.

The apex court stayed for eight weeks the High Court order that issued status quo on publication of the gazette.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order following a petition filed by the government, seeking a stay on the HC order.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the government while advocate AF Hasan Arif appeared for the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (Noab).

On August 6, the HC issued the status quo for two months. The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why the unilateral finalisation of the award by the ninth wage board without giving the stakeholders opportunity to raise objections to the recommendations should not be declared illegal.

On Monday, the SC bench fixed yesterday for passing the order.

The government on January 29 last year constituted the ninth wage board to propose enhanced salary and other benefits for journalists and other employees of newspapers and news agencies.

On July 25 this year, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said a cabinet committee has finalised its report for endorsement.

Quader, who heads the seven-member cabinet committee, had told newsmen that “after the final approval [by the cabinet], a gazette will be published” for its implementation.