Successful SPSC candidates awaiting postings

KARACHI:

More than 150 candidates, who passed the written test of the combined competitive examination under the Sindh Public Service Commission in 2019, are still unable to get government jobs.

These candidates include those who have passed the test and qualified for various posts, including assistant director in Grade 17, in different departments including prisons, home affairs, excise and taxation, livestock and Fisheries as well as local government.

Reportedly, appointment letters are not being issued on the pretext of a court order. The concerned departments of the Sindh government have not yet been able to decide whether the candidates, who passed the test and qualified in 2019, fall into the purview of the decision or if they have any relevance to the court order and their appointment letters have only been delayed on the basis of mere speculation.

As a result, candidates, who have passed the test of the Sindh Public Service Commission, have been deprived of jobs; even after three years. These candidates say that departments of the Sindh government are deliberately blocking their recruitment by justifying a court order. Those who have met the criteria for Grade 17 posts have been sitting at home and awaiting appointments.

A candidate for the post of assistant director for Local Government told The Express Tribune that he had appeared for the exam under the Sindh Public Service Commission in 2019. The results were released in November 2020nd the final list of successful candidates was released on April 13, 2021, This included just 39 candidates who qualified for local government after which they were to be issued appointment letters.

Later, a decision of the Hyderabad Circuit Court to stop the ongoing recruitment under the Sindh Public Service Commission came to light in June 2021. However, this decision was not related to the candidates who passed the test in 2019.

Despite this, other departments of Sindh government, including local government, have stopped recruitments and these candidates are not being allowed to join their duties. The candidates are visiting the department jointly and individually. However, they get the answer that the law department is being consulted and they will have wait for its advice.

On the other hand, on 26th November, 2021, the Local Government Department wrote a letter to the Law Department secretary, seeking advice in this regard.

The letter asked the law department to give advice on advancing the recruitment process for 39 qualified candidates for local government who have been recommended under the Sindh Public Service Commission's 2018 advertisement.

The Express Tribune contacted Muhammad Hanif, a section officer of the local government department, to find out about the current situation. "I have been transferred to another section and am not looking into the case, but it is clear that no reply has been received from the Law Department in this regard," he responded.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2022.