High Court issues contempt rule against seven including chief of secondary and higher education dept

The chief of Directorate General of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has been pulled up by the High Court.

The court in a rule has asked why contempt charges will not be brought against DSHE Director General Fahima Khatun and six others, including the education secretary for not complying with the court’s order.

Khatun and DSHE Assistant Director Helal Uddin have also been told to appear before the court on Jan 5 to give explanations.

The High Court issued the order on Wednesday after hearing petition filed by four teachers and an instructor of Rangpur Model College.

On Jan 11, 2010, the DSHE issued letters to the five, which said their appointments were not valid and cancelled their inclusion from the government’s monthly pay order (MPO) programme.

It also asked them to reimburse their salaries and allowances paid under MPO.

The five moved the High Court challenging the legality of the letter. On Jan 27 the same year, the court issued a rule staying the DSHE’s directive.

On Nov 24 this year, the DSHE wrote to the five asking why their inclusion under MPO would not be withheld and told them to repay the salary and allowances to the state exchequer within seven days.

The five filed a contempt petition with the High Court on Tuesday, which was heard on Wednesday.