HC stays JnU notification asking married students for leaving hall
Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday stayed the effectiveness of a notification of the Jagannath University authorities that asked the married and pregnant students for leaving its Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib hall.
It also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain as to why their notification asking the married and pregnant students for leaving dormitory should not be declared illegal.
The High Court Bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by seven rights organisations including Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).
On September 25 this year, through a notification, the university authorities ordered the married and pregnant students staying in ‘Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall’ to leave the hall immediately.
At the same time, the resident students, whose Masters results have been declared, have also been ordered to leave the hall. The decision angered the married and pregnant students of the university.
Being aggrieved with the decision the seven organizations earlier sent a letter to the JnU Vice-Chancellor to withdraw the notification barring married and pregnant student staying in the hall.
As the authorities unheeded the notice, the organizations filed writ petition challenging the legality of the notification.
Upon hearing the writ petition, the High Court also asked the respondents to submit a report with it within February 7 in 2024 detailing the discriminatory provisions regarding having residential facilities and in the code of conducts of the universities.
Education Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman and other respondents have been asked to comply with the order.
Barrister Sara Hossain and Advocate Aynunnahar Siddiqua appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Ami Das Gupta represented the state.
