SC sends case of 67 lecturers back to PHC

Rules Grade 17 civil servants can be recruited only through FPSC

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has ruled that Grade 17 civil servants can be recruited only through the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and sent the case of 67 lecturers back to the Peshawar High Court with directives to decide it within four months.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the appeal of 67 lecturers of Grade 17 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

During the hearing, Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that how can Grade 17 employees working on contract be made permanent?

Chief Justice Gulzar said that Grade 17 employees can be recruited only through the FPSC.
K-P additional advocate general took a stand that the employees were recruited in the project and then made permanent.

Justice Ahsan said that the civil servant can be recruited only through FPSC.

“Recruitments were made in backdoor contracts and they were made permanent,” the AAG said. “There is no law to make such contract employees permanent in Grade 17.”

Backdoor recruitment is made permanent, he said, adding that if a department is in dire need of employees, ad hoc recruitment can be done for six months.

Justice Ahsan said, "Read Article 240. What is the procedure for recruitment of civil servants?"
The employees' lawyer said they were recruited in 2011 and the department challenged it in the court in 2018.

Justice Ahsan remarked that backdoor recruitments are made and then they are made permanent by introducing an act.

The court accepted the government's appeal and sent the case to the high court.