The Circuit Bench of Sindh High Court comprising Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito has instructed the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) to keep photographs, audio and video recordings of the candidates undergoing interviews for recruitment in Grade 16 and above.
As per court orders, SPSC members of the interview committee should be seen in such video, and a statement of the person recording the video should also be recorded without any modification at the end of the interview. Such audio and video records must be kept in safe custody for at least three years, and in case such media goes missing, the chairman and secretary of SPSC will be responsible.
The court also directed that the results of the written examinations conducted by the SPSC and the results of the viva voce should be displayed on commission's website along with the candidates' name, seat number, father's name and marks obtained.
The landmark ruling was issued by the court in response to the constitutional petitions filed against the Sindh Public Service Commission, in which petitioners' alleged violation of merit by the commission in the recruitment of municipal officers. As many as 30 candidates had challenged the examination results for the appointments of municipal officer, town officer and assistant accounts officer through two constitutional petitions filed at the Sindh High Court.
The court reserved the verdict after the joint hearing of the two petitions on March 12 and 13, the order of which was released on Wednesday.
In the 22-page order penned by Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, the SHC directed the petitioners to appeal to the chairman under Rule No. 161 of the SPSC (Recruitment Management) Regulations, 2023 in case of any concerns. Whereas according to the law, the chairman may decide an appeal within 45 days, the ruling will be sent to the applicant's address as well as informed through the website.
In its order, the court directed the chairman SPSC to conduct an inquiry regarding the allegations levelled by the petitioners against Rizwan Memon, a member of the interview committee.
A committee would be formed to investigate the allegations against Rizwan Memon, hear the accused and the petitioners, following which a detailed report should be submitted to the court in two months.
The court has also ordered that in the future no member of the interview committee will be a part of the interview panel in which any candidate, related to him, will be a participant. The chairman SPSC is ordered to ensure its implementation.
As per court orders, the petitions did not raise any objection to the process of the examinations, from the publication of the recruitment advertisement to the conduct of written examinations. However, after their failure in the interview, they raised objections to the process, and filed instant petitions. But during the hearing, no one could give any justification as to why the petitioners were targeted.
In these circumstances, the judiciary is not convinced by the prayers of the petitioner's lawyers, demanding that the whole process of SPSC be annulled. The High Court disposed of the petitions by issuing necessary directions.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2024.
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