The rule came after a writ petition filed as public interest litigation by Supreme Court Advocate ZI Khan challenging the legality of the university's appointments based on its syndicate decision on May 18 and 19 last.

The petitioner said all public universities require approval of the University Grants Commission for any recruitment. But the Islamic University did not obtain this approval.

The Islamic University has an annual budget deficit of Tk 9 crore.

The new recruitment will increase this deficit up to Tk 12 crore a year, he said.

The university founded in 1980 had employed 279 people till 2002. But in 2005, the university employed 162 people in one go and in May 2006, it employed 89 more. This raises questions about the transparency and nepotism in the recruitment process, the petition says.

The petitioner added that following the May recruitment, there had been agitation and dissatisfaction at the university leading to conflicts and closure of the institution for some days.

The respondents of the rule include the university vice chancellor, registrar and treasurer.

Advocate Shahdeen Malik moved the case on behalf of the petitioner.