A High Court bench ordered authorities on Thursday to take necessary steps for staging election to Jahangirnagar University's Vice Chancellor panel.
The bench of Justices Naima Haider and Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar gave the order while settling a writ petition.
Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association Vice-President and Senate member Prof Abul Khair filed the writ petition after a group of teachers started demonstration demanding to hold polls to elect deans and members of the Syndicate and the Senate before the VC panel election, which is scheduled for Jul 20.
Prof Khayer of the Department of Botany is known to be a supporter of former VC Sharif Enamul Kabir, who was removed following protests. On May 17, Dhaka University teacher Prof Anwar Hossain replaced Kabir.
Then the authorities announced to hold polls to the VC panel. But the teachers' group under the banner of 'Sammilito Shikkhok Samaj' said the election should be suspended as the senate, which is to choose the three-member panel for the VC post, did not have full quorum. They said the tenure of 52 out of 92 members of the senate has expired.
However, the High Court on Thursday ordered relevant authorities to take steps to ensure that the petitioner could vote without any obstruction.
The Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police and the Officer-in-Charge of Ashulia Police Station were asked to take necessary steps.
Shahdeen Malik stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman and Assistant Attorney General Mohammad Bashir Ullah argued for the state.
"The petition was filed as petitioner fears he would not be able to vote peacefully due to the deadlock in the university," Malik said.
The university has seen months of protests after a student of the Department of English, Zubair Ahmed, was killed on Jan 8 in an attack by pro-Awami League student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League. The then VC, Sharif Enamul Kabir was removed from his post following continuous protests by the students and teachers.
