1. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Surplus Public Servants Absorption Ordinance, 1985. (2) It shall be deemed to have taken effect on the 16th day of December, 1971, except section 3 which shall be deemed to have taken effect on the 17th day of June, 1975.

2. In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-(a) “cadre post” means a post in any service specified in Schedule I to the Bangladesh Civil Service Recruitment Rules, 1981, and includes a post in the Senior Services Pool;(b) “local authority” means any body corporate or other authority constituted or established by or under any law and includes any other body or organisation set up by the Government;(c) “post” means a civil post in the service of the Republic or of any local authority and includes a cadre post;(d) “public servant” means any person who is, for the time being, in the service of the Republic or of any local authority, but does not include any person who-(i) is a member of any defence service,(ii) is employed in or under a commission, committee or board set up for a temporary period for specified purposes,(iii) is a contingent or work-charged employee,(iv) is employed in or under a project set up for a temporary period for specified purposes, or(v) is employed on contract for a specified period;(e) “surplus public servant” means a public servant whose post is abolished by the Government for the purpose of administrative re-organisation or who, being a servant of the erstwhile Government of Pakistan, joined the Government of Bangladesh on repatriation or escaping or defecting from Pakistan, or any other public servant the responsibility of whose absorption has been taken by the Government.

3. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance, a person who was an employee of a newspaper the declaration of which stood annulled under the Newspaper (Annulment of Declaration) Act, 1975 (XLII of 1975), and the responsibility of whose absorption had been taken by the Government shall be deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of this Ordinance.

4. The provisions of this Ordinance and the rules made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any rule, regulation, bye-law, instrument, contract, agreement, award or settlement or in any terms and conditions of service of a public servant.

5. (1) A surplus public servant shall, as far as practicable, be absorbed in a post carrying the same scale of pay of the post which he held immediately before becoming surplus had carried: Provided that if a surplus public servant cannot be absorbed in any post which carries same of scale of pay, he may be offered a post carrying lower scale of pay; and if he does not accept the offer, he shall be deemed to have been retired from service with effect from the date he rejects the offer or after thirty days from the date of receipt of the offer, whichever is earlier. (2) A surplus public servant shall not be absorbed in any post unless he is nominated by the Ministry of Establishment: Provided that the Ministry of Establishment may authorise a Ministry, Division or a local authority to absorb a surplus public servant in any office under its administrative control. (3) For the purpose of sub-section (1), no surplus public servant shall be required to sit for any test or examination or to have any particular qualification or length of service or to be within any particular limit of age. (4) Once a surplus public servant is absorbed in a post under sub-section (1), it shall be final and he shall not be entitled to be re-absorbed in any other post.

6. The seniority, pay and pension of surplus public servant shall, on his absorption in a post, be determined in accordance with the principles laid down by the Government from time to time.

7. Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, a surplus public servant shall, on his absorption in a post, be subject to all laws, rules and regulations relating to that post.

8. The Government may, by order, prohibit for a period specified therein, recruitment in any local authority without the previous sanction of the Government.

9. No consultation with the Bangladesh Public Service Commission shall be necessary for the purpose of absorption of surplus public servants under this Ordinance.

10. No action taken or order made under this Ordinance shall be called in question in or before any Court, tribunal or authority and no suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any person for anything done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Ordinance or any rules made thereunder.

11. The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance.