The High Court has issued status quo on recruitments of 1,650 deputy assistant agriculture officers -- whose exam results were published on January 17 this year -- for 30 days on charge of irregularities in applying quota system in the appointment process.

The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to conduct an inquiry into the allegation of irregularities in applying quota system in publishing the final test results and to republish the results.

Secretaries to the ministries of agriculture and public administration, chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission and director general of Agricultural Extension Department have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order and rule yesterday following a writ petition collectively filed by 33 candidates, who passed the written test but could not pass the recruitment tests, seeking its order on the respondents to conduct an inquiry into the allegation of irregularities in applying quota system in the appointment process and to republish the exam results.

Petitioners' lawyer Salahuddin Dolon told The Daily Star today that the respondents cannot recruit 1,650 candidates to the posts of deputy assistant agriculture officers for 30 days following the HC status quo order.

He said a circular was issued on January 23, 2018 for recruiting 1,650 deputy assistant agriculture officers.

The preliminary and written tests for the recruitment were held on August 2, 2018 and September 13, 2018 and the viva voce was held for 24 days between December 18, 2018 and January 14 this year, he said.

The lawyer said the authorities concerned published the final results on January 17 this year only after two days from concluding the oral tests without applying the quota system.

For an example, 33 candidates were supposed to recruited from Tangail district as per the quota but a total of 148 candidates were made qualified in the results, Advocate Salahuddin said, adding that he produced relevant documents before the HC in support of the claim of irregularities in following the quota system.