THE High Court order for the restoration of quota in public service that the government abolished in October 2028 in the wake of protests has come as disappointment for students and jobseekers. The court on June 5 asked the government to restore a 30 per cent quota for the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters in cadre and non-cadre government jobs. It has sparked off fresh protests. Such a quota system is discriminatory and against meritocracy. While the quota system is justified and is in practice somewhere as a means to help disadvantaged or marginalised people, Bangladesh followed a quota system, which reserved about 56 per cent of all public services 鈥� 30 per cent for freedom fighters鈥� children and grandchildren, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for people of underdeveloped districts, 5 per cent for ethnic minorities and 1 per cent for physically challenged people.
Such a quota system cannot be justified even in the light of constitutional provision, which says that the state can make 鈥榮pecial provision in favour of any backward section of citizens for the purpose of securing their adequate representation鈥� in service. Legal experts say that the reservation of 56 per cent of government jobs under quota invalidates, to an extent, another provision, which says that 鈥榯here shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in respect of employment or office鈥� in service. Experts say that the constitution empowers the government to make special provisions, if needed, in favour of the backward section of citizens; families of freedom fighters do not classify as 鈥榖ackward section鈥�, adding that the government can give them benefits in other forms.
The government must, therefore, attend to grievances of general students and jobseekers and realise that quota may benefit some people, but following meritocracy in recruitment helps all.
