IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN

(Appellate Jurisdiction)

Present:
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, CJ
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan

Civil Petition No.3390 of 2021

(On appeal against the order dated 13.04.2021 of the Peshawar
High Court, Peshawar passed in W.P. No. 4609-P of 2020)

General Post Office, Islamabad & others …Petitioners

Versus
Muhammad Jalal …Respondent

For the petitioners: Malik Javed Iqbal Wains, Addl.A.G.P.

Assisted by Miss Maryam Rasheed, AHC
Mr. Gulistaj Ahmed Kiani, Senior Postmaster

For the Respondent: Nemo

On Court Notice: Mr. Khalid Ishaq, Advocate General, Punjab assisted by

Barrister Muhammad Mumtaz Ali, Addl.A.G., Pb
Mr. Saifullah, Addl.A.G., Sindh
Mr. Shah Faisal Ilyas, Addl.A.G., KPK
Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Swati, Addl.A.G., Balochistan

Date of Hearing: 26.09.2024

JUDGMENT
Naeem Akhtar Afghan, J. The respondent (herein) filed a Writ Petition in
the Peshawar High Court for issuing directions to the petitioners (herein)
to consider him for appointment against the quota reserved for the
children of class-IV employees who retired on medical grounds. The
respondent relied upon the Office Memorandum (‘OM’) dated 13 April
20051 of the Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan (‘the
Establishment Division’) whereby the following paras were added to the
Establishment division’s OM dated 21 March 20002 which provided
guidelines for contract appointments for a period of two years to civil posts
under the Federal Government:

‘The condition of open advertisement may also be

relaxed by the Prime Minister for the purpose of
appointment on contract basis of widow/widower of one
child of a deceased civil servant who dies during service
and wife/husband or one child of a serving civil servant
who becomes ‘permanently disabled during service’ and

1 OM No.4/1/2005-CP.1 dated 13 April 2005

2 OM No.8/10/2000-CP.1 dated 21 March 2000
CP No.3390 of 2021 2

he/she takes retirement from service provided that such

special dispensation may be allowed only for
appointment to posts in BS-10 and below.

Provided further that the widow/widower or a child of a

civil servant who dies during service and wife/husband
or a child of a serving civil servant who becomes
‘permanently disabled during service’ and he/she takes
retirement from service will have to apply for contract
appointment within one year after the death of a civil
servant or retirement of a permanently disabled civil
servant. In case of a minor child of a civil servant, the
one year period will start from the date he/she attains
the age of 18 years.’

2. The Writ Petition was contested by the petitioners on the ground

that the father of the respondent on 7 August 1996 availed of his
retirement as Postman (BPS-4) on medical grounds, therefore, the OM
dated 13 April 2005 cannot be applied retrospectively to appoint the
respondent, who was the son of a retired civil servant.

3. The Writ Petition was disposed of by a Division Bench of the

Peshawar High Court vide impugned order dated 13 April 2021 by issuing
directions to the petitioners to appoint the respondent on contract basis in
terms of OM dated 13 April 2005 (wrongly mentioned as notification in the
impugned order) in accordance with the policy, notwithstanding that the
OM dated 13 April 2005 could not be applied retrospectively to appoint
the respondent as his father had retired from service on 7 August 1996,
when at that time there was no policy for appointment of a child of a civil
servant who dies during service or becomes permanently disabled during
service and on this ground takes retirement from service.

4. The notice of this case issued to the respondent was received by his
cousin who stated that the respondent has shifted abroad, but he did not
disclose his address. Learned Additional Attorney-General (‘AAG’) stated
that the respondent was not appointed by the petitioners as directed by
the impugned order because he had shifted abroad.

5. During the hearing of this matter the following questions arose,

which were noted in our order of 4 January 2024 as under:

‘(1) Whether the policy conforms with Article 25 and 27

of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
insofar as it creates separate categories of persons who
are to be given preference in employment; and

(2) Whether the Prime Minister of Pakistan has the power

to relax rules and/or to issue the Policy.’

6. To ascertain as to whether the policy accords with the Constitution

of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 (‘the Constitution’), notices
CP No.3390 of 2021 3

were issued to the learned Attorney-General for Pakistan as well as to the

learned Advocate-Generals of the Provinces under Order XXVII-A of the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (‘CPC’).

7. Sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973 (‘the

Civil Servants Act’) empowers the President of Pakistan (‘the President’)
or any person authorized by him in this behalf, to make necessary rules
for carrying out the purposes of the Civil Servants Act. The President
authorized the Prime Minister of Pakistan (‘PM’) vide SRO
No.S.R.O.120(1/98) dated 27 February 1998 to make necessary rules.
There are similar provisions in the provincial laws. Sub-section (1) of
section 23 of the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974 (‘the Punjab Civil
Servants Act’) empowers the Governor of Punjab or any person
authorized by him in this behalf, to make necessary rules for carrying out
the purposes of the Punjab Civil Servants Act. Sub-section (1) of section
26 of the Sindh Civil Servants Act, 1973 (‘the Sindh Civil Servants Act’)
empowers the Government of Sindh or any person authorized by it in this
behalf, to make necessary rules for carrying out the purposes of the Sindh
Civil Servants Act. Sub-rule (1) of rule 26 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Civil Servants Act, 1973 (‘the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Act’)
empowers the Governor of the Province or any person authorized by him
in this behalf, to make necessary rules for carrying out the purposes of
the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Act. The Governor had authorized
the Chief Minister (‘CM’) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to make necessary rules.
Sub-rule (1) of Section 25 of the Balochistan Civil Servants Act, 1974 (‘the
Balochistan Civil Servants Act’) empowers the Government of
Balochistan or any person authorized by it in this behalf, to make
necessary rules for carrying out the purposes of the Balochistan Civil
Servants Act.

8. The rules for carrying out the purposes of the relevant Civil Servants
Acts have to be respectively made by the PM, the Governor of Punjab, the
Government of Sindh, the CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Government
of Balochistan. However, the laws and the rules made thereunder must
conform with Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality of
citizens and their entitlement to equal protection of law, and with Article
27 of the Constitution, which safeguards against discrimination in the
service of Pakistan.
CP No.3390 of 2021 4

9. The Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules,

1973 does not provide for nor envisages what OM dated 13 August 2001 3
issued by the Establishment Division had sought to do, that is, the
appointment, without open advertisement, of a widow or one child of a
civil servant of the Federal Government who dies during service, to a post
in BPS-5 and on lower grade on contract basis. Through OM dated 5
January 20024 issued by the Establishment Division, the same benefit
was extended up to those in BPS-10. Thereafter, vide OM dated 13 April
20055 issued by the Establishment Division the widow/widower/child of a
civil servant who dies during service or who becomes permanently
disabled during service and takes retirement from service, were made
entitled for appointment on contract basis to any position up to BPS-10
without the same being advertised.

10. The Establishment Division introduced the Prime Minister’s

Assistance Package (‘the Package’) vide OM dated 13 June 20066 for the
families of Federal Government employees who die in service grants for
different grades which covered pensionary benefits, accommodation, free
education, free health, allotment of plot, house building advance and
employment to the posts in BPS-1 to 15 for two years on contract without
the post being advertised. The Package was amended vide OM dated 20
October 20147 and additional benefits were granted with effect from 15
June 2013 to the families of Government employees who die in service
including employment of widow/widower/one son or daughter to the posts
in BPS-1 to 15 on regular basis without advertising the post provided the
applicant fulfils the criteria of the said post.

11. The Package was further amended vide OM dated 22 October 2014 8
with effect from 15 June 2013 and included the retention of official
accommodation by the family of a Government employee who dies in
service or payment of rent for five years or till the age of superannuation,
whichever is later. The Package was again revised by the Establishment
Division vide OM dated 4 December 20159 with effect from 9 February
2015 with the grant of a three hundred percent increase in lump sum
grant in the package earlier issued in 2006 and provided for other
benefits, including employment to posts in BPS-1 to 15 on two years
contract without the post being advertised. The Package was again revised

3 OM No. F.No.8/10/2000-CP.1 dated 13 August 2001

4 OM No. F.No.8/10/2000-CP.1 dated 5 January 2002
5 OM No.4/1/2005-CP. 1 dated 13 April 2005
6 OM No. 7/40/2005-E.2 dated 13 June 2006
7 OM No. 8/10/2013-E.2 dated 20 October 2014
8 OM No. 8/10/2013-E.2 dated 22 October 2014
9 OM No. 8/10/2013-E-2(Pt) dated 4 December 2015
CP No.3390 of 2021 5

by the Establishment Division vide OM dated 23 December 202210 with

effect from 4 December 2015 whereby the provision of contract
employment under the Package of 2015 was replaced with regular
appointments with immediate effect and the services of all the contract
employees appointed under the Package of 2006 and the Package of 2015,
who were contractual employees were regularized with immediate effect.

12. The learned AAG conceded that appointments of a

widow/widower/child of a civil servant who dies in service and those who
become permanently disabled during service and takes retirement from
service, either on contract or on regular basis, in different grades and
without open advertisement was in violation of Articles 25 and 27 of the
Constitution.

13. Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions
of Service) Rules, 1974 existed in the Province to provide Government job
to the widow/wife/child of a civil servant in BPS-1 to 11 who dies in
service or is declared invalidated/incapacitated for further service; it is
reproduced hereinbelow:
‘17.A. Notwithstanding anything contained in any rule to
the contrary, whenever a civil servant dies while in service
or is declared invalidated/incapacitated for further
service, one of his unemployed children or his widow/wife
may be employed by the Appointing Authority against a
post to be filled under rules 16 and 17 for which he/she
possesses the prescribed qualification and experience and
such child or the widow/wife may be given 10 additional
marks in the aggregate by the Public Service Commission
or by the appropriate Selection Board or Committee
provided he/she otherwise qualifies in the
test/examination and/or interview for posts in BS-6 and
above;

Provided further that one child or widow/wife of a

Government servant who dies while in service or is
declared invalidated/incapacitated for further service
shall be provided a job against posts in BS-1 to 5 and the
posts of Junior Clerks (BS-7) in the department in which
the deceased Government servant was working, without
observance of formalities prescribed under the
rules/procedure. Provided such child or the widow/wife is
otherwise eligible for the post.

Provided further that only one child or widow or wife of an

employee who dies during service or is declared
invalidated or incapacitated for further service, if
otherwise eligible for the post, shall be appointed to a
post in BS-1 to BS-11 in the department where the
Government servant was serving at the time of the death
or the declaration, without observance of the procedural
requirements prescribed for such appointment.’

10 OM No. F. No.8/23/2021-E-2 (pt) dated 23 December 2022

CP No.3390 of 2021 6

14. Learned Advocate-General, Punjab informed that the policy for

appointing one child/wife/widow in BPS-1 to BPS-11 (including the post
of Patwari and Junior Clerk) of a civil servant who dies in service or is
declared invalidated/incapacitated for further service in pursuance of the
provisos to the above rule 17-A was discontinued with effect from 21
November 2023 vide notification dated 7 December 2023. Thereafter, vide
notification dated 26 July 2024 rule 17-A was omitted. He further stated
that the Government of Punjab has approved a Financial Assistance
Package with effect from 22 February 2017 for the families of the civil
servants who die while in service, with different rates of compensation for
different pay scales and the rate of compensation has been revised from
time to time. The Financial Assistance Package in the Province of Punjab
does not contain any provision to provide a Government job, either on
contract or regular basis, in any grade, to a child/wife/widow of a civil
servant who dies in service or is declared invalidated/incapacitated for
further service.

15. Rule 11-A of the Sindh Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and
Transfer) Rules, 1974 provided Government jobs in BPS-1 to 11 to a
child/spouse of a civil servant who dies in service or is declared
invalidated/incapacitated for further service; it is reproduced hereinbelow:

‘Where a civil servant dies while in service or is declared

invalidated or incapacitated for further service, one of
his/her children or, as the case may be, [spouse] (when
all the children of the deceased employee are minor) shall
be provided job who applies within a period of two years
of death or declaration of invalidity or incapacity of civil
servant on any of the [Basic Pay Scale 1 to 11] in the
Department where such civil servant was working:

Provided that such appointment shall be made after

fulfillment of formalities as required in the recruitment
rules and holding interview, for the post applied for:

Provided further that the cut of date shall be within two

years of the death of the officer or official.

[Provided further that if a right of employment has

already accrued to any of the children of deceased or
invalidated or incapacitated civil servant then the former
shall not be deprived of the benefit accrued to him under
Notifications dated 11.03.2008 and 17.07.2009 of these
rules.]’

While conceding that the above rule is discriminatory and violates

Articles 25 and 27 of the Constitution, learned Additional Advocate-
General, Sindh stated that the above rule has not been omitted by the
Government of Sindh.
CP No.3390 of 2021 7

16. Rule 10 (4) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants

(Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules, 1989 provided for the
appointment of one child or spouse to a post in BPS 1 to 10 of a civil
servant who dies in service or is rendered incapacitated/invalidated
permanently during service; it is reproduced hereinbelow:
‘Where a civil servant dies or is rendered
incapacitated/invalidated permanently during service
then notwithstanding the procedure provided for in sub-
rule (2), the appointing authority may appoint one of the
children of such civil servant, or if the child has not
attained the age prescribed for appointment in
Government Service, the widow/wife of such civil
servant, to a post in any of the Basic Pay Scales 1-10:

Provided that the child or the widow/wife as the case

may be, possesses the minimum qualification prescribed
for appointment to the post:

Provided further that if there are two widows/wives of

the deceased civil servant, preference shall be given to
the elder widow/wife.

Provided also that the appointment under this sub rule

is subject to availability of a vacancy and if more than
one vacancies in different pay scales are available at a
time, and the child or the widow/wife, as the case may
be, possesses the qualifications making him or her
eligible for appointment in more than one post, he /she
shall ordinarily be appointed to the post carrying higher
pay scale.’

While conceding that the above rule is discriminatory and violates

Articles 25 and 27 of the Constitution, the learned Additional Advocate
General of the Province stated that the same has not been omitted as yet.

17. Rule 12 of the Balochistan Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion

and Transfer) Rules, 2009 provided for the appointment of a child or
spouse of a civil servant in BPS-1 to 15 who dies in service without
observing the condition of open advertisement; it is reproduced
hereinbelow:
‘Notwithstanding anything contained in any rule to the
contrary, whenever a Civil Servant dies while in service,
his/her spouse or a child may be employed by the
appointing authority against a post in BPS-1 to 15 in the
department in which deceased Government Servant was
working, without observing the condition of open
advertisement;

Provided that –

(a) the spouse or child as the case may be, shall

possess the qualification prescribed for the post;
and

(b) If the child of the deceased Government Servant is

under-age, his name shall be included in the
CP No.3390 of 2021 8

waiting list from the date of death of his/her

Father or Mother. However he/shall be considered
for appointment after he/she attains the age
prescribed for the post.’

Rule 12-A of the above Rules of 2009 provided for the appointment,
without open advertisement, one child in BPS-1 and BPS-2 of a civil
servant who, while serving in BPS-1 and 2, retires on superannuation or
due to invalidation; it is reproduced hereinbelow:
‘Notwithstanding anything contained in any rule to the
contrary, whenever a Government Servant in BPS-1 and
BPS-2 retired on superannuation or due to invalidation,
one of his/her children may be employed by the
appointing authority against a post in BPS-1 and BPS-2
in the Department in which the retired Government
Servant was working, without observing the condition of
open advertisement;

Provided that –

(a) the child possesses the qualification prescribed for

the post; and

(b) If the child of the retired Government Servant is

under-age at the time of retirement, his name shall
be included in the waiting list from the date of
retirement/invalidation of his/her Father or
Mother. However he/shall be considered for
appointment after he/she attains the age
prescribed for the post.’

The learned Additional Advocate-General, Balochistan informed that

vide notification dated 9 May 2023 rule 12-A had been omitted but that
rule 12 still exists. He further stated that in the case of PWD Employees
Union Balochistan v. Secretary Communication and Works11 a Division
Bench of the Balochistan High Court declared the said rule 12 to be
discriminatory and ultra vires Articles 2A, 3, 4, 9, 18, 25 and 27 of the
Constitution, but the judgment passed by the Balochistan High Court was
held not sustainable by a three member Bench of this Court vide order
dated 19 September 2022 passed in Civil Appeal Nos. 691 and others on
the ground that the question of vires of rule 12 was not before the High
Court and that it could not take suo moto notice of the same since it did
not have suo-moto jurisdiction to take up the matters on its own accord as
was held in the case of Dr. Imran Khattak v. Ms. Sofia Waqar Khattak12.

18. The widow/widower, the wife/husband and the dependent children

of a civil servant who dies during service or becomes permanently
disabled/invalidated/incapacitated for further service and takes

11 2015 PLC (C.S.) 1182

12 2014 SCMR 122
CP No.3390 of 2021 9

retirement from service get pensionary and other benefits from the public
exchequer, to which they are entitled. However, the above mentioned
rules, policies, OMs, etc. which secure or provide appointments in
different grades, without open advertisements and competition, to the
widow/widower, wife/husband or a child of a civil servant of the Federal
and Provincial Governments, who dies during service or becomes
permanently disabled/invalidated/incapacitated for further service and
takes retirement from service, is ex facie discriminatory against the other
or ordinary citizens of Pakistan and the same cannot be termed as a
reasonable classification as their object is to give an advantage by
excluding others, which is not permissible under Article 25 of the
Constitution. Article 27 of the Constitution which specifically attends to
the service of Pakistan prohibits discrimination in services.

19. The Government and public sector employment cannot be allowed to

be parceled out to the functionaries of the State. These jobs neither are
nor can be made hereditary. The Constitution stipulates that equal
employment and economic opportunities must be provided to all citizens.
Economic justice, if we may add, is a component of social justice which
focuses on creating equal opportunities for all within a society in all
aspects.

20. Article 4 of the Constitution embodies the concept of equality before

law, equal protection of law, right of individuals to be dealt with in
accordance with law and saving the citizens from arbitrary/discriminatory
laws and actions. It is the duty and obligation of the public functionaries
under Article 4 of the Constitution to act in accordance with law.

21. Article 5(2) of the Constitution bounds everybody to obey the

command of the Constitution. Every public functionary has to act in good
faith, honestly and within the precinct of its power so that the persons
concerned should be treated in accordance with the law as guaranteed by
Article 4 of the Constitution, which include principles of natural justice,
procedural fairness and procedural propriety. While discharging official
functions every effort should be made to ensure that none is prevented
because of unfair and discriminatory treatment.

22. Under Article 3 of the Constitution it is obligatory for the State to

ensure elimination of all forms of exploitation and the gradual fulfilment of
the fundamental principles, from each according to his ability to each
according to his work. To achieve the object of good governance and to
fulfil the obligation under Article 3 of the Constitution, transparency and
CP No.3390 of 2021 10

merit in appointments in the service of Pakistan that includes government

jobs must be adopted.

23. The appointment of a widow/widower, wife/husband or child of a

civil servant in different grades on contract or regular basis, without open
advertisement, competition and merit is also violative of Article 18 of the
Constitution which provides that subject to such qualification, if any, as
may be prescribed by law, every citizen shall have the right to enter upon
any lawful profession or occupation and to conduct any lawful trade or
business. Appointments obstructing ordinary qualified citizens to compete
for entering into the profession of the service of Pakistan in accordance
with their ability and eligibility also violate this fundamental right, and if
such appointments are made they negate equality of opportunity,
competition, merit and also defeat the object of good governance.

24. Good governance cannot be achieved by exercising discretionary

powers unreasonably or arbitrarily. This objective can be achieved by
following the Constitution and the rules of justness, fairness and
openness as enshrined in the above referred Articles of the Constitution.

25. Any law, policy or rule which is manifestly inconsistent with the
Constitutional commands, retrogressive in nature and discriminatory inter
se the citizens is subject to judicial review. In the case of Government of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Secretary Agriculture v. Tahir Mushtaq and
others13, while dismissing the claim of the son of a retired civil servant of
the Agriculture Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who sought
appointment in BPS-5 on the basis of employee’s son quota policy, it was
held by a four member Bench of this Court that:
‘The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
prohibits discrimination as stated in Article 25 and
further stipulates and entrenches the principle in respect
of service of Pakistan in Article 27. In preferring the
children of a government servant or reserving seats for
them offends the Constitution. The same also detracts
from a merit based system of employment. The taxpayers
hard earned monies pay for the salaries, benefits and
pensions of government servants. The people’s interest
lies in having the best person for the job, and not to suffer
those who secure employment on the basis of a filial
relationship. The stated instructions undermine
transparency and good governance, therefore, the
government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be advised to
withdraw all such instructions/notifications.’

For the above reasons, while granting leave, Civil Petition No. 3390
of 2021 is converted into an appeal and is allowed. The impugned order

13 Civil Petition No.288-P of 2015 decided on 12 September 2024

CP No.3390 of 2021 11

dated 13 April 2021 passed by the Peshawar High Court in favour of the
respondent is set aside. Policies, office memorandums, employment under
the Package of the Prime Minister, the Financial Assistance Package, Rule
11-A of the Sindh Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer)
Rules, 1974, Rule 10 (4) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil servants
(Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules, 1989, Rule 12 of the
Balochistan Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules,
2009 or any other rule, policy, memorandum, etc. whereunder
appointments without open advertisement, competition and merit, of the
widow/widower, wife/husband or child of civil servants in different
grades, who die during service or become permanently
disabled/invalidated/incapacitated for further service and take retirement
from service, are declared to be discriminatory and ultra vires Articles 3, 4,
5(2), 18, 25(1) and 27 of the Constitution. The prescribed Federal and
Provincial authorities are directed to withdraw the same. However, it is
clarified that the instant judgment shall not affect the appointments
already made of the widow/widower, wife/husband or child of deceased or
retired civil servants. It is further clarified that this judgment shall not
affect the policies, rules or compensation packages of the Federal and
Provincial Governments for the benefit of the legal heirs of martyred
personnel of the law enforcement agencies and of civil servants who die on
account of terrorist activities.

Chief Justice

Judge

Judge

Announced in the open court on 18 October 2024

ISLAMABAD
26 September 2024
Approved for reporting
Atif/Zohaib Afzal