Public fund embezzlers must be accountable : HC

Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Thursday observed that those who spend public funds must be responsible and accountable.

It further said the authorities concerned should take appropriate action if the Vice Chancellor of any public university commits illegality, irregularity, and embezzlement during discharging functions.

The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque passed the observation while delivering a verdict on a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the recruitment of 138 teachers and staff members of Rajshahi University.

In the verdict the High Court rejected the rule issued earlier questioning the legality of the recruitment of 138 teachers and staff members of Rajshahi University, appointed by the then Vice Chancellor Prof M Abdus Sobhan on May 5, 2021, the last day of his term.

The court said that since the recruitment of the 138 teachers and staff members was finally dismissed by the authorities, the rule had no substance. In an observation, the High Court said, those who use public funds must be responsible and accountable.

The HC said the teachers and staffers can file fresh applications for recruitment to the RU and the authorities would consider their applications in accordance with law, said Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta who represented the state during the hearing of the writ petition.