LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – In a recent landmark judgement, Justice Jawad Hassan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that mere recommendation for a civil award will not lead to its entitlement and directed the federal government to ensure transparency in the selection process for the prestigious awards.
The LHC judge, in his written order, said criteria under the Federal Decoration Act 1975, for the nomination of civil awrds should be determined.
The case revolved around an application filed by Khushdil Khan Khattak, a grade-20 school principal employed by the Federal Governmnet Education Institutes (FGEI), an entity attached to the Ministry of Defence.
Khattak alleged despite being among the names submitted by the DG FGEI Rawalpindi Cantt for consideration in civil awards 2022 nominations (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), his name was excluded when the Ministry of Defence forwarded a list of 10 names to the Cabinet Division, deviating from the original five names submitted by the secretary of defence ministry.
Justice Hassan, while dismissing the petition, asked the government to devise a strategy for the award process. The court directed to share the verdict with the key offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, secretary to the Prime Minister, and ministries.
The judgement highlighted Article 259 of the Constitution, which outlines the process of civil awards. It mandates that each year in December, the Cabinet Division solicit nomination from all ministries, which are then forwarded to the Awards Committee.
After multiple sessions, the matter reaches the Central Award Committee chaired by federal ministers. The shortlisted names are subsequently sent to the president via the prime minister for final approval.
While acknowledging the existing procedural framework, Justice Jawad Hassan’s ruling underscored the need for clearly defined criteria for nominations.
The court’s directive to fix the criteria for nominations reflects a commitment to ensuring fairness and transparency in the recognition of individuals’ contribution to the nation.
The annual awards ceremony, which is held on March 23, is always a significant event where distinguished individuals are hounored for their exceptional services to the country.