HC asks govt to appoint 197 candidates

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government in a verdict to appoint 197 candidates, who qualified the first viva voce for 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, to the services within three months.
The court also instructed the government to give them seniority according to the merit list of the Public Service Commission.
The court, however, ruled the candidates who qualified in the fresh viva test would not be affected with this verdict.
The HC bench of Justice Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury and Justice Abu Bakar Siddiquee delivered the verdict upon three writ petitions jointly filed by the 197 candidates.
Earlier, the past caretaker government, on May 30, 2007, cancelled the result of first viva test of 27th BCS on the allegations of irregularities in holding the examimation, but without having any jurisdiction, said the petitioners' counsel Advocate Salahuddin Dolon.
He also said his clients were selected in the first viva of the 27th BCS in 2005 and the result was published on January 21, 2007.
In the fresh viva, 1,154 candidates, including the 197 writ petitioners, were disqualified.
Md Sohel Rana and Sanjoy Debnath and 195 others in November last year and in July this year filed the petitions challenging the caretaker government's decision.
Advocate- Abdur Rob Chowdhury, Abdul Matin Khasru, AFM Mesbahuddin and barrister Mahbub Shafique appeared for the petitioners, while Additional Attorney General Murad Reza stood for the government.