IHC seeks govt’s reply in bureaucrats’ promotion case

Court asks under which law the selection board gave discretionary powers for 30 numbers

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought a reply from the Establishment Division on a petition challenging the promotions of government officers under Civil Servants Rules (BPS 18 to 21) 2019.

The court sought assistance from the federal government on several legal points pertaining to the matter.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervaiz conducted the hearing on a petition filed by officers of the Federal Board of Revenue, customs, police and Central Board of Revenue, challenging the recommendations of the Central Selection Board for promotions of bureaucrats under new rules.

During the course of proceedings, the court asked that under which law the Central Selection Board had been given discretionary powers for 30 numbers and whether such powers met the standard of justice and fairness.

Sindh cabinet approves relief ordinance

The court asked whether the discretionary numbers could be given to someone on basis of board members' likes and dislikes.

The petitioner's counsel Abdul Raheem Bhatti Advocate claimed that the Civil Servant Rules 2019 were contradicting with orders of the top court.

The officers from BPS-18 to BPS-21 were being affected by these new rules.

The court sought joint written arguments from lawyers of petitioners while seeking legal assistance from the government on several points till May 7.