The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Monday that the way adopted by law ministry officials in hiring the staff for newly established east division of capital courts was against ICT civil and sessions court ministerial establishment service rules 2011. A single member bench comprising Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan was hearing the case, filed by 15 Assistant Record Keepers of the district courts against the senior officials of law ministry for publishing advertisements for direct recruitments as senior clerks in the lower courts and for ignoring their promotions. The petitioners cited District and Session Judge and Registrar IHC as respondents.
The counsel for the petitioners, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, contended before the court that as per Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) civil and sessions court ministerial establishment service rules 2011, the appointment of Record Keeper and senior clerk shall be made by promotion on seniority-cum-fitness basis from amongst the Assistant Record Keepers, Assistant English Clerks, Copy Clerks, Typist Junior Clerk, Copyist, Record Inspection Clerk or Dispatch Clerks (BPS-7). He further submitted that in accordance with the criteria laid down in the rules, the petitioners are entitled to be considered for promotion as Record Keeper or Senior Clerk (BPS-9, but despite the said legal position, the posts have been advertised in the national dailies published on 25/1/2012 for direct recruitment which was unlawful and similar to injustice with the petitioners.
On January 19th, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notification for the appointment of six new judges in east division of the lower courts after which the law ministry planned to hire new staff for east division and in this regard advertisement was also published in national dailies, offering direct inductions on several posts including record keepers, readers, clerks, senior clerks etc.
The counsel stated that the impugned advertisement is void ab initio and in violation of rules and laws. He prayed before the court to direct the respondents to declare the advertisement illegal and to consider the petitioners for promotion to the posts of Record Keeper or Senior Clerk (BPS-9). After hearing his arguments, the court sought comments from the respondents while adjourned the hearing until first week of April.
It is worth mentioning here that the tests for the posts of record keepers and senior clerks were earlier scheduled to be held on 29/1/2012 which has now been rescheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).
