Supreme Court axes job quota policies for government employees' children
Pakistan
Setting aside PHC verdict, SC also declared provincial legislation void
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared all the packages and job quota policies for government employees' children void.
The top court issued the landmark judgment regarding the children of the federal government.
The court admitted the GPO appeal set aside the Peshawar High Court 2021 verdict on the job quota issue.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan wrote the order that overturns the 2021 Peshawar High Court judgment in favour of such appointments.
The court struck down Section 11A of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Act and invalidated sub-clause 4 of Section 10 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Rules, 1989.
Likewise, Clause 12 of the Balochistan Civil Servants Rules, 2009, has also been repealed. The ruling highlights that the quota system contradicts several key articles of the Constitution, including Articles 3, 4, 5(2), 25, and 27, which guarantee equal rights and non-discrimination.
The court directed all provincial and federal governments to immediately halt the practice of appointing the children of government employees without open advertisement or merit-based competition.
However, the ruling exempted the heirs of martyrs from terrorist incidents, ensuring that they continue to receive the benefits of existing packages and policies.
Muhammad Jalal, the petitioner, sought a class IV position on medical grounds following his father's retirement. The Peshawar High Court had ordered his appointment on a contractual basis. The GPO later appealed to the Supreme Court, which led to this significant ruling.
