The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today upheld a High Court order that stayed a government decision to grant appointment letters to 6,531 candidates who qualified for the posts of assistant teachers at government primary schools.

The apex court also asked the HC to hear and dispose of by January 25 next year its previous rule that asked the authorities concerned to explain why the appointment process of 6,531 candidates should not be scrapped as the process was made following the quota system.

A three-member bench of Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam passed the order following a leave to appeal petition filed by the Directorate of Primary Education that challenged the HC order.

On November 19, the HC stayed the government decision to grant appointment letters to 6,531 candidates who qualified for the post of assistant teachers at the government primary schools and issued the rule.

The HC passed the stay order as their recruitment process was completed under the quota system which was cancelled by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in July this year, Deputy Attorney General Nur Mohammad Azami told The Daily Star on that day.

The HC issued the order and rule following a writ petition filed by 30 candidates challenging the legality of the government decision to grant appointment letters to the 6,531 candidates.

Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for the directorate today while Advocate Zainul Abedin and Advocate Kamruzzaman Bhuiyan argued for the petitioners during the hearing.