HC summons 2 high-ups of education directorate

The High Court today summoned two top officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) to appear before it on January 5 for violating its order on cancellation of monthly payment orders (MPOs) of five college teachers.

Director General Fahima Khatun and Assistant Director Helal Uddin have been summoned to explain why they have ordered five teachers of Rangpur Model College to refund their salaries despite a stay order by the court.

The court also issued a rule asking seven government high officials including the duo and education secretary to explain in two weeks as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for violating its order.

The HC bench of Justice Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury and Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah came up with the order and rule after hearing a contempt of court petition filed by the college teachers.

Petitioners’ lawyer ABM Altaf Hossain told The Daily Star that the DSHE on January 11, 2010 issued a notice cancelling the MPOs of five teachers of Rangpur Model College – Ahsan Habib, Toyob Miah, Kazi Khlaed, Jikrul Islam and Mominur Rahman.

The DSHE in the notice said appointments of five teachers were not valid and asked them to refund salaries and allowances they had received to the government treasurer.

Following a writ petition filed by the five, the HC on January 27, 2010 stayed the effectiveness of the DSHE notice and issued a rule upon the authorities concerned of the government and DSHE to explain why the notice should not be declared illegal, he said.

Altaf Hossain said the DSHE on November 24 this year issued another notice asking the five teachers to refund their salaries and allowances and also asked to explain why their MPOs should not be cancelled.

The lawyer said DSHE issued the second notice on the teachers in violation of the HC order, which is tantamount to contempt of court.

The five filed the contempt of court petition with the HC on December 8 against the officials concerned on charge of violating the HC order, he added.