IFTIKHAR AHMAD and another vs AUDITOR-GENERAL OF PAKISTAN and otherss

The petitioners challenged the applicability of the government policy dated 11th March 1996, titled 'the Rules and Regulations for appearance of old candidates in Divisional Accounts Officer's Examination,' seeking exemption from its requirements. The core legal question was whether candidates who had voluntarily accepted and acted upon a new examination policy by availing three attempts could subsequently challenge the applicability of that policy to their cases. The Supreme Court held that having accepted the new system and participated in the examinations thereunder, the petitioners were estopped from contending that the new policy did not govern their cases. The Court affirmed the decisions of the High Court and the Federal Service Tribunal, which had declined to interfere with the government's policy. The principle laid down is that a party who acquiesces to a new administrative arrangement by availing its benefits or participating in its processes cannot later challenge the validity or applicability of that arrangement, particularly in the absence of any question of public importance.