The Appellate Division Chamber Court has suspended the High Court verdict regarding the promotion of craft instructors to the post of junior instructor in polytechnic institutes.

The case has been scheduled for hearing on May 18 by the regular bench of the Appellate Division.

On Sunday (April 20), the Chamber Judge Court of Justice Md Rezaul Haque issued the order after hearing an appeal filed by the Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education against the High Court’s ruling.

During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf represented the state, while Mohammad Rafiul Islam appeared on behalf of the Director General. On the other side, Zainul Abedin and Mohammad Shishir Manir represented the writ petitioners.

Following the order, lawyer Mohammad Rafiul Islam said that the suspension of the High Court verdict means craft instructors will not be promoted to the post of junior instructor at this time. He added that polytechnic students protesting over the issue should reconsider their agitation, as it now lacks legal justification.

Last year, craft instructors Md Ashiq Miah and others filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging two clauses (27 and 28) of the Non-cadre Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Officer-Employee Recruitment Rules 2020 under the Directorate of Technical Education and its affiliated institutions.

After an initial hearing, the High Court issued a rule. Following the final hearing, on March 18, the court delivered its verdict. The judgment directed the creation or reservation of certain higher posts for the writ petitioners (craft instructors) in government institutions. If no such posts were available, the court ruled that craft instructors should be promoted to the post of junior instructor, subject to qualifications.

On April 15, the Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education filed a leave to appeal (application for permission to appeal) against the High Court verdict. Several key demands were raised in the appeal:

1. Cancellation of the Verdict: The High Court verdict on the promotion of craft instructors to junior instructor posts should be annulled.

2. Designation Change: The designation of craft instructors should be revised.

3. Dismissal of Involved Parties: Those involved in the case should face dismissal.

4. Nullification of Appointments: Appointments of craft instructors made in 2021 should be cancelled, and recruitment rules should be amended.

5. Age Restriction for Diploma Enrolment: The provision allowing enrolment in Diploma in Engineering courses at any age should be abolished. A four-year curriculum should be introduced, and academic activities should gradually transition to English-medium instruction.

6. Action Against Institutions Violating Rules: Legal action should be taken against government, autonomous, and self-governing institutions appointing diploma engineers to lower positions, despite those posts being reserved for sub-assistant engineers and equivalent (10th-grade) graduates.

7. Ban on Non-Technical Manpower: Recruitment of non-technical personnel for management roles in the technical education sector—such as director, assistant director, board chairman, deputy secretary, examination controller, and principal—should be prohibited. Notifications should be issued to recruit technically qualified manpower for these posts, along with skilled teachers and lab assistants for vacant positions.

The appeal also emphasised broader reforms to address discrimination and challenges in technical education:

- Establishment of an independent ministry called the ‘Ministry of Technology and Higher Education’ to develop skilled human resources.

- Creation of technical universities to provide higher education opportunities for polytechnic graduates.

- Introduction of temporary campuses and academic activities under the scope of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) at four ongoing engineering college projects (Narail, Natore, Khagrachari, and Thakurgaon). These campuses should ensure 100% admission opportunities for polytechnic and monotechnic graduates from the next session.

The suspension of the High Court verdict marks a temporary setback for craft instructors seeking promotions. Meanwhile, the case highlights systemic issues within the technical education sector, prompting calls for comprehensive reforms to ensure equity, quality, and efficiency in recruitment and academic practices.