Islamabad:
A Constitutional Bank (CB) of the Supreme Court issued on Monday a notice to the Federation on a petition filed against the induction of armed forces officers in the civil bureaucracy without any written exam.
A CB of five members led by Judge Aminuddin Khan took a request presented through Ali Azeem Afridi.
During the hearing, the lawyer said that civil candidates eager to join the central higher services (CSS) have the mandate to sit a written exam and an interview. However, the armed forces officers are exempt from the written exam.
When Judge Ali Baqar Najafi, a bank’s member, asked the lawyer about which of his fundamental rights is violated by this provision, replied that this provision was discriminatory.
The CB issued a notice to the Federation under section 3 of the civil services rules, 1956 and postponed the case for three weeks.
The CSS refers to the Civil Elite Service of Pakistan through which the bureaucrats and government officers are recruited for several federal departments and ministries.
Made by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), the purpose of the CSS exam is recruited officers for the 17 -year positions in several federal government services. This exam includes written evidence of mandatory and optional issues, psychological evaluation and a living voce or interview.
The bank, hearing a request on the inclusion of the education of life skills in schools, summoned the federal and provincial education secretaries.
Judge Muhammad Ali Mazhar commented that the presence of all secretaries would help develop a joint strategy.
The additional attorney general informed the Court that the education of life skills is already being taught in Islamabad schools. Judge Mazhar emphasized that all provinces must formulate a policy in coordination with the federal government.
Salman Akram Raja said Punjab and the federal government have presented their answers, but they have not provided copies. The court expressed his discontent for the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s representative.
The court ordered that copies of all provincial responses be shared with the petitioner’s lawyer and postponed the hearing for an indefinite period.
During the hearing of an appeal related to the appointment of Vice Chancellor in Universities, Judge Mazhar asked if the rector and the president of the International Islamic University of Islamabad had been appointed.
The lawyer replied that the rector has not been appointed permanently and currently has an interim position. The university lawyer informed the court that the president of the International Islamic University has been appointed, but has not yet taken over due to being in Saudi Arabia.
