Public funds must be used responsibly, HC observes in RU hiring verdict
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Individuals spending public funds must demonstrate responsibility and accountability, the High Court has observed while delivering its verdict on a writ petition challenging Rajshahi University's (RU) recruitment of 138 teachers and staff.
The authorities concerned should take appropriate action if any public university’s vice chancellor commits illegality, irregularity, and embezzlement while discharging their duty, the HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque said during the verdict.
The court also rejected the rule issued earlier questioning the legality of RU’s recruitment by then Vice Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan on May 5, 2021, the last day of his term, noting that since the recruitment was dismissed by the authorities, the rule has become irrelevant.
Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta represented the state, while lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua stood for the CAB during the hearing.
Mr Gupta told reporters that the HC has allowed those - who were recruited as teachers and staff only to see their recruitment dismissed by the authorities - to reapply for their positions at RU, and their applications will be considered as per the law.
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) filed a writ petition as a public interest litigation on August 31, 2021, challenging the legality of then RU VC Abdus Sobhan's recruitment actions and the inaction of the government and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in addressing these issues.
Following the petition, the High Court in September 2021 questioned the recruitment actions of the former VC and stayed the appointments.
An investigation committee later recommended the cancellation of these recruitments, leading to their eventual dismissal by the authorities.