Promotion criteria in question: Fate of civil servants hangs in balance
Change in service laws could result in their demotion.
Change in service laws could result in their demotion. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
More than 700 senior civil servants may be reverted back to their earlier positions if the Supreme Court’s judgment calling for change in civil service laws is implemented.
The Supreme Court on October 3 annulled civil servants’ promotions in a petition, seeking the objective criteria for their promotion.
Government employees who were promoted from BPS-19 to BPS-20, and then from BPS-20 to BPS-21, in two back-to-back board meetings of the Central Selection Board (CSB) in February this year, are currently working under various civil service groups.
The Express Tribune has learnt that there is severe resentment among many senior civil servants, who are likely to face demotion, while a majority of them are making their mind to go for the review.
Sources in the Establishment Division (ED) said that the division had sought the opinion of the law ministry on the Supreme Court’s 40-page order to decide whether to implement the court’s ruling as it is or go seek a review.
“Implementation of Supreme Court order will be carried out after the consultation of law division,” said Establishment Secretary Shahid Rashid.
The CSB is due to convene a meeting to review promotion of all civil servants recently upgraded, a source said.
The CSB is supposed to keep in mind the Supreme Court’s direction which states that “the government will undertake the exercise to outline the objective criteria for promotion to make the civil servant and honest officer free from political pressure.”
Another BPS-22 officer, on condition of anonymity, said that the government was likely to go for a review of the order after consultations with its legal team.
“Now you will see transfers and postings in the aftermath of this judgment,” the officer said, adding that it will be a difficult exercise for the CSB to review all cases as directed by the apex court.
Some senior officers believe that all civil servants who were promoted will have to surrender their perks and privileges in light of this judgment, adding that 88 senior civil servants whose names have been mentioned in the judgment will face demotion.
Meanwhile, officers from other civil service groups feel that since the case was filed by a District Management Group (DMG) officer against the promotion of another DMG officer, the involvement of other groups was out of question.
Farooq Kazi, a retired joint secretary, who was also promoted before getting superannuation, observed that the situation had become complicated after the judgment as dozens of civil servants had retired after getting promotion this year.
However, other retired bureaucrats termed it a good decision.
“It is a very good decision,” observed a retired chairman of Monopoly Control Authority Saleem Asghar Mian, who said that only merit, and not nepotism should be the criterion for promotion.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.
More than 700 senior civil servants may be reverted back to their earlier positions if the Supreme Court’s judgment calling for change in civil service laws is implemented.
The Supreme Court on October 3 annulled civil servants’ promotions in a petition, seeking the objective criteria for their promotion.
Government employees who were promoted from BPS-19 to BPS-20, and then from BPS-20 to BPS-21, in two back-to-back board meetings of the Central Selection Board (CSB) in February this year, are currently working under various civil service groups.
The Express Tribune has learnt that there is severe resentment among many senior civil servants, who are likely to face demotion, while a majority of them are making their mind to go for the review.
Sources in the Establishment Division (ED) said that the division had sought the opinion of the law ministry on the Supreme Court’s 40-page order to decide whether to implement the court’s ruling as it is or go seek a review.
“Implementation of Supreme Court order will be carried out after the consultation of law division,” said Establishment Secretary Shahid Rashid.
The CSB is due to convene a meeting to review promotion of all civil servants recently upgraded, a source said.
The CSB is supposed to keep in mind the Supreme Court’s direction which states that “the government will undertake the exercise to outline the objective criteria for promotion to make the civil servant and honest officer free from political pressure.”
Another BPS-22 officer, on condition of anonymity, said that the government was likely to go for a review of the order after consultations with its legal team.
“Now you will see transfers and postings in the aftermath of this judgment,” the officer said, adding that it will be a difficult exercise for the CSB to review all cases as directed by the apex court.
Some senior officers believe that all civil servants who were promoted will have to surrender their perks and privileges in light of this judgment, adding that 88 senior civil servants whose names have been mentioned in the judgment will face demotion.
Meanwhile, officers from other civil service groups feel that since the case was filed by a District Management Group (DMG) officer against the promotion of another DMG officer, the involvement of other groups was out of question.
Farooq Kazi, a retired joint secretary, who was also promoted before getting superannuation, observed that the situation had become complicated after the judgment as dozens of civil servants had retired after getting promotion this year.
However, other retired bureaucrats termed it a good decision.
“It is a very good decision,” observed a retired chairman of Monopoly Control Authority Saleem Asghar Mian, who said that only merit, and not nepotism should be the criterion for promotion.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.