HC asks why DU Fine Arts chair appointment should not be declared illegal over seniority breach

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the appointment of Professor AAM Kaoser Hassan as chairman of the Sculpture Department under the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority for violating seniority.

The court also asked why Professor Lala Rukh Selim should not be appointed chairman of the department.

A bench of Justices Shikdar Mahmudur Razi and Fatema Anwar issued the rule today (5 November), following a hearing on a writ petition filed by Professor Lala Rukh Selim.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for the petitioner.

Lala Rukh filed the writ challenging the legality of Kaoser’s appointment, alleging that the university had disregarded seniority in selecting the department’s chairman. The respondents include Dhaka University, its vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor (administration), acting registrar and the newly appointed chairman.

The previous chairman’s tenure was scheduled to end on 29 September.

Ahead of its expiry, a meeting of the department’s academic committee on 15 September decided to formally recommend to the registrar that Professor Lala Rukh Selim be appointed as the next chairman based on seniority.

However, the university authorities disregarded the recommendation and issued an appointment order naming Kaoser as the new chairman on 21 September. The appointment took effect on 29 September.