Dhaka: The High Court on Monday rejected a writ petition filed seeking reformation of quota system in government jobs.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan passed the order after hearing the petition.

Advocate Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan moved for the petition while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the government.

On January 31, Advocate Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan, on behalf of a student of Dhaka University and two journalists, filed the writ petition.

Cabinet secretary, secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Secretary of Parliament Secretariat, Public Administration Secretary and PSC Chairman were made defendants in the petition.

Advocate Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan said the then government in 1972 had introduced 30 per cent quota for the freedom fighters and 10 per cent quota for the women who were affected during the Liberation War.

Later, the quota system was reformed. As per the reformation, five percent quota have been included for Indigenous people while 10 per cent as district quota, and one percent for people with disabilities. Now a total of 56 percent quota existed in the government jobs.

The quota system is contradictory with the Articles 19, 28 and 29 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic Of Bangladesh, he added.