Supreme Court orders reinstatement of 85 dismissed election officers after 18 years

After an 18-year-long legal battle, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of 85 Upazila Election Officers who were dismissed during the tenure of the caretaker government. 

The ruling was announced today by a five-member bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, much to the relief of the officers who had been fighting for justice for nearly two decades.

The dismissed officers originally lost their jobs in 2005 when 327 Upazila Election Officers were temporarily appointed through the Public Service Commission (PSC). 

However, these appointments quickly became the center of controversy. As a result, the caretaker government dismissed 85 of these officers.

Seeking justice, the dismissed officers filed a case, but on March 23, the Administrative Tribunal rejected their plea. 

Undeterred, they filed an appeal, and in a victory for the officers, the Administrative Appellate Tribunal ruled on April 12, 2010, in favor of their reinstatement.

The government, however, appealed against the 2010 ruling. 

The case was then sent to a regular bench for further hearings, and the Appellate Division stayed the reinstatement order. 

In 2022, on September 1, the Appellate Division upheld the government’s appeal, canceling the order for the reinstatement of the 85 officers.

In a renewed effort for justice, the dismissed officers filed five separate review petitions in 2023, requesting a reconsideration of the verdict.

Finally, after multiple hearings, today’s ruling was delivered in favor of reinstating the officers. "We are satisfied with this ruling," commented the lawyers representing the officers.

The decision marks a significant development in a long-running legal dispute, and it has been met with satisfaction by the officers, who have been waiting for this outcome for nearly two decades.

The legal proceedings and verdict also come after the Appellate Division had set February 25 as the date for the ruling following a February 20 hearing on appeals and review petitions. 

This long-awaited decision is a major relief for the officers who have been battling for their reinstatement since their dismissal in 2005.

This ruling is likely to stir discussions around the appointment and dismissal process of government officials and the lengthy legal battles involved in such cases.