Supreme Court clears way for DGFP to continue recruitment process of Family Welfare Inspectors

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) to proceed with its recruitment process for the posts of family welfare inspector. 

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed ‘no order’ after hearing a government appeal petition filed against a High Court verdict that directed the directorate to complete the recruitment process within three months. 

Earlier, on December 15, 2024, after hearing four separate writ petitions, the High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury directed the authorities concerned to complete the recruitment process for the posts of ‘Family Welfare Inspector’ within three months. 

Later, the Director General of the Directorate General of Family Planning filed a leave-to-appeal petition against the High Court verdict. The Chamber Judge held a hearing on the appeal on Tuesday and gave the decision. 

Lawyer Syeda Nasrin, who appeared in the Chamber Court representing the job seekers, told the FE that the authorities concerned now have no bar to continuing the recruitment process following the Chamber Judge’s order. 

According to the case documents, the DGFP issued a circular on March 10, 2020, to appoint 1,080 candidates to the posts of ‘Family Welfare Inspector’. Authorities also held a written examination for the posts on February 18, 2023, in which 7,621 candidates qualified. A viva voce was later held on May 25 and June 18, 2023. 

However, without publishing the results of the viva voce, the authorities issued a notification on January 14, 2024, cancelling the selection process, citing irregularities during the written examination.

Challenging the legality of the notification, 25 candidates who had already passed the written examination and appeared for the viva voce filed a writ petition with the High Court. Later, three more writ petitions were filed by other candidates. 

Upon hearing the petitions, different High Court benches stayed the effectiveness of the notification issued by the Directorate General of Family Planning cancelling the selection process. 

The High Court benches also directed the authorities concerned to maintain the status quo on the subject matter of the selection process. They also issued rules questioning the legality of the cancellation notification.

Upon final hearing of the rules, the High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury directed the authorities concerned to complete the recruitment process for the posts of ‘Family Welfare Inspector’ within three months. 

Lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syeda Nasrin appeared in court on behalf of the job seekers, while Sheikh Mahmood Hasan represented the DGFP.