Fresh inductions: FPSC regains power to appoint civil servants

The president will be bound to act upon advice of commission.

ISLAMABAD:

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League has stripped the president of the power to make appointments in the civil services and handed it back to the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).

Under the Civil Service of Pakistan (Composition and Cadre) Rules 2014, issued through a statutory regulatory order (SRO), the government has made it binding for the president to act upon FPSC’s advice when it comes to making appointments in civil services.

At the same time, the government has also taken away the prime minister’s power to make appointments --  upon those whose advice the president performs all actions.

Under the new rules, the government has also changed the nomenclature of the District Management Group to Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS). Under the new arrangement, a quarter of the deputy secretary posts, 35% of the joint secretary posts and 65% of the additional and federal secretary posts from the Federal Secretariat will be allotted to PAS.

The remaining posts will be divided among the Secretariat Group and others under a 33%-66% ratio. For example, out of the 75% deputy secretary posts remaining, one-third will be allotted to Secretariat group and two-thirds to others.

Civil service officials believe this arrangement holds two advantages: it will allow speedy promotions for all groups and the posting of officials from one group to fill a vacancy in another will be backed legally.

The arrangement would also address all legal questions and anomalies raised before the Supreme Court on the appointment of officers in the Federal Secretariat. Officials say the new rules will put to rest the ongoing litigation between the PAS and PCS over distribution of vacancies.

The PCS lobby wants the induction of PCS officers as per original 1954 Cadre Rules. The Cadre Rules 1954 only provided for induction against 20% vacancies.

The present SRO, official sources say, provides for induction of PCS officers against 30% vacancies in BS-19 through an open competitive process under FPSC. It will be mandatory for PCS officers to have served for five years at a cadre post before seeking induction in federal service.

As for promotion to BS-20 and BS-21, it is pertinent to add here that 65% of the vacancies of joint secretaries have been reserved for the Secretariat Group and others and all of the vacancies of senior joint secretaries have been reserved for the Secretariat Group on the same 33%-66% basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2014.