SC okays DU senate meeting on VC panel selection

The Supreme Court yesterday cleared the way for holding a special general meeting of Dhaka University's senate on July 29 for selecting a three-member panel to appoint its new vice chancellor.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Syed Mahmud Hussain stayed a High Court order that halted the process for holding of the senate meeting scheduled to be held on July 29.

The apex court chamber judge passed the order following a petition filed by the DU authorities seeking a stay on the HC order.

He also sent the stay petition to the full bench of the Appellate Division for its hearing on July 30.

Advocate AFM Mesbahuddin, a lawyer for Dhaka University, told The Daily Star that there is no legal bar for holding the meeting of DU's senate for electing a three-member panel on July 29 for appointing the new VC following the SC chamber Judge's order.

Following a writ petition, the HC on July 24 stayed the process for holding the special general meeting of DU and also ordered the authorities concerned of the government and DU to take steps for constituting a full-fledged senate under Section 20(1) of Dhaka University Order 1973.

At the same time, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why the move to hold senate special general meeting without forming the full-fledged body should not be declared illegal.

Sixteen teachers and registered graduates of DU have filed the writ petition with the HC saying that there is no full-fledged senate at this moment.