HC stays DGFP notification cancelling selection process of family welfare inspectors

The High Court on Monday stayed the effectiveness of a notification that the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) had issued on January 14 in 2024 cancelling the selection proceedings for posts of ‘family welfare inspector’.

It also directed the authorities concerned to maintain the status quo on the subject matter of the selection proceedings for the posts of ‘family welfare inspector’.

The High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by 25 job aspirants who have already passed a written examination and appeared for the viva voce.

The court also issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain as to why the notification issued by the DGFP cancelling the selection proceedings should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, it wanted to know as to why the respondents should not be directed to complete the selection proceedings with the candidates who have already passed the written examination and appeared for the viva voce.

The health education and family welfare secretary, the director general of DGFP, and the director (administration) of DGFP have been named as respondents in the rule. They are required to comply with the rule within four weeks.

Lawyer Siddique Ullah Miah, represented the petitioners during the hearing, said, “The DGFP issued a circular on March 10 in 2020 to fill 1080 posts of ‘Family Welfare Inspector’. Later, the authorities held a written examination for the posts on February 18 in 2023, with 7621 candidates qualifying in it. The viva voce was held on May 25 and June 18 in 2023. However, [around seven months after the viva voce] on Jan 14 this year, the authorities issued a notification cancelling the selection process, saying that irregularities took place in the written examination.”

Challenging the legality of the notification, 25 candidates, who have already passed the written examination and appeared for the viva examination, filed a writ petition with the High Court.

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