Court upholds govt's right to set police recruitment policy

Over 80 petitions dismissed; court says age policy for cannot be challenged

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed over 80 petitions challenging the upper age limit for the recruitment of Sub-Inspectors in the Punjab Police.

Justice Raheel Kamran announced a six-page detailed verdict, rejecting the petitions filed by Muhammad Irshad and several others, who had sought relaxation in the maximum age limit prescribed under the police recruitment policy.

In the judgment, Justice Kamran ruled that age relaxation is a policy matter falling under the government's discretion, and therefore, not subject to judicial interference.

The petitioners, the court noted, failed to provide any valid grounds for the court to intervene in the matter.

The court observed that the rules regarding age limits were framed by the Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police with the government's approval, reflecting administrative and operational requirements.

Elaborating on the rationale, the judgment stated that age determination varies between service quota appointments and open merit recruitment, as the latter requires candidates to possess youth and physical fitness—key elements for police duties.

Justice Kamran emphasised that the court's mandate is to uphold the law, and it can intervene only in cases involving violations of fundamental rights. The judgment clarified that general civil servant laws governing age relaxation do not extend to the police force, given its distinct nature of service.

Referring to previous practice, the court pointed out that age relaxation under civil servant rules has never been applied to police recruitment, and therefore, the petitioners' claims of discrimination were unfounded.

Employees recruited through the service quota, the court added, are naturally distinguished by their prior experience and service record.

With this decision, the Lahore High Court reaffirmed the government's authority to frame and enforce recruitment policies for the Punjab Police, underscoring that courts cannot interfere in matters rooted in policy discretion.