HC asks govt to include 159 FP officers in cadre service

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to immediately include the jobs of 159 non-cadre family planning officers in the cadre service with seniority.
The High Court bench of Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice Md Shamsul Huda came up with the directive upon a writ petition jointly filed by the non-cadre officials.
The petitioners' counsel Barrister M Badruddoza told The Daily Star that following the HC verdict his clients will get seniority and promotion from 1995, when the posts of the family planning officers were divided into two categories -- cadre officials and non-cadre officials.
He said the then government classified 464 posts of the family planning officers without any lawful authority as some 230 officials, out of 464, were given cadre status, depriving 234 others.
A total of 194, out of 234 non-cadre officials, filed a writ petition with the High Court in 2002 challenging the government action dividing the post, he said, adding that 159, out of 194 petitioners, are now in the service.