The Appellate Division has ordered the reinstatement of jobs for 1,137 candidates who were deprived of employment in the 27th BCS exams nearly 17 years ago.
After the appeal hearing on Thursday, the verdict was issued by a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Senior lawyers Barrister Salahuddin Dolon and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir represented the petitioners in court, while Additional Attorney General Barrister Aneek R. Haque appeared for the state.
The lawyers stated that after a lengthy legal battle, the highest court upheld the High Court's verdict by granting the appeal. As per the ruling, the 1,137 candidates, who were deprived of their appointments in the 27th BCS must be appointed within 90 days.
Earlier, the appeal hearing for the reinstatement of the jobs of the 1,137 excluded candidates from the 27th BCS was concluded on Wednesday, and the verdict was set for today.
The appeal filed on behalf of the 1,137 candidates excluded was scheduled to be heard on November 7,2025, according to the order.
In response to a separate review petition regarding this matter, the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, granted leave to appeal after hearing the petition.
On July 11, 2010, the Appellate Division issued a ruling upholding the High Court's decision to annul the first viva exam in the 27th BCS exam, declaring it valid. In response to this ruling, 140 individuals filed separate petitions on behalf of the 1,137 excluded candidates, seeking a review of the decision.
After the ruling, advocate Salahuddin Dolon, representing the petitioners, explained that during the tenure of the caretaker government, a decision was made to conduct a second viva exam in the 27th BCS exam. The 1,137 candidates were supposed to join the job after final recommendations. This decision was challenged, and the High Court declared the second viva exam invalid. However, another bench of the High Court upheld the validity of the second exam. In response, the government filed a separate leave to appeal against the High Court's decision. The Appellate Division resolved the leave to appeal with observations in 2010, affirming the legitimacy of conducting the second viva exam.
Senior lawyer Salahuddin Dolon stated that 140 individuals filed three separate petitions on behalf of the 1,137 candidates who were deprived of their jobs, seeking a review of the Appellate Division’s ruling.
He stated that the caretaker government at the time did not have the authority to decide on conducting a second viva exam. Moreover, the PSC law and regulations did not provide for conducting a second viva exam.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
