KARACHI: The Sindh Public Service Commission’s decision to conduct the Combined Competitive Examinations (CCE) 2019 at the Hyderabad centre only instead of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana centres is a violation of SPSC rules as candidates have mentioned Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana as centres in their applications as per the rules.
It is also the violation of the fundamental rights particularly Article 25 that pertains to “Equality of Citizens”, and Article 27 pertaining to “Safeguard against discrimination in services” of the Constitution. This one-centre policy puts the female candidates from far-flung areas at a clear disadvantage, thus this decision will likely end up in depriving them of sitting for the examination. Also, it is against the spirit of Sustainable Development Goals’ goal number 5 “Gender Equality”.
Several students are reaching out us to seek help and request the Sindh CM to reverse the decision. After Hyderabad was announced as the only centre, hotels have increased their charges up to Rs30,000 per night, which most of the students cannot afford. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah should look into the issue and revoke the decision to facilitate the educated youth of the province.
Rabia Azfar Nizami MPA
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2019.
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