MUHAMMAD SALEEM-II Versus FEDERATION OF PAKISTAN
This petition for leave to appeal was filed against the judgment of the Federal Service Tribunal, which had dismissed the petitioner's appeal seeking the antedating of his selection grade in BPS-16 to April 25, 1994, instead of November 27, 1994. The petitioner contended that he was entitled to the selection grade from the date the vacancy allegedly accrued. The Supreme Court of Pakistan observed that, based on the seniority list and available vacancies, the petitioner was not eligible for the selection grade on the earlier date. The Court affirmed the Tribunal's finding that vacancies cannot be artificially created by directing the promotion of third parties who were not before the court. The Court held that selection grades must be processed according to law and approved by the competent authority in accordance with the rules. Finding no infirmity in the Tribunal's reasoning, the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal.
- Whether a civil servant can claim a selection grade from a date prior to the actual accrual of a vacancy matching their seniority position?
- Can the Service Tribunal direct the promotion of third parties who are not before it in order to create vacancies for an appellant?
- Is a civil servant entitled to the antedating of a selection grade before it is approved by the competent authority in accordance with the rules?
1. AJMAL MIAN, ACTG. C.J.‑‑‑ This is a petition for leave to appeal against the judgment dated 4‑4‑1996 by the learned Federal Service Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal) in Appeal No.526(R) of 1995 filed by the petitioner claiming selection grade in BPS‑16 with effect from 25‑4‑1994 instead of with effect from 27‑11‑1994 on which date he was granted above selection grade, dismissing the same. The petitioner has, therefore, filed the present petition for leave to appeal.
2. In support of the above petition, the petitioner has vehemently contended that he was entitled to claim selection grade with effect from 25‑4‑1994 i.e., on the date when the vacancy had accrued and not from 27‑11‑1994 when he was granted the same. His further submission was that the Tribunal erred in not antedating the above date of promotion as was prayed for by him.
3. The above contention of the petitioner seems to be factually incorrect. The vacancy against which he was given above selection grade had accrued on 27‑11‑1994 and not on 25‑4‑1994. In this regard, it would be pertinent to reproduce the following portion of the impugned judgment:‑‑
4. "The representative of the Establishment Division has explained that according to the seniority list, the appellant's name figures at Serial No‑16 and the appellant has no cavil about this proposition. On 5‑4‑1994, 9‑5‑1994 and 30‑6‑1994, there were total vacancies of 10, 12 arid 13 respectively, and according to the seniority position of the appellant, he was not eligible for grant of selection grade. However, there were 13 vacancies on 27‑11‑1994 and the appellant was accordingly granted selection grade from 27‑11‑1994 and no injustice was done to him. Whatever the case may be, but the question before us is whether this Tribunal can order promotions of Stenographer B‑15 to the post of Private Secretaries, thereby creating vacancies of Stenographers for appellant, and the grievance of the appellant is that if the promotions of Stenographers had been made as Private Secretaries in time, the appellant could be granted selection grade BS‑16 with effect from 25‑4‑1994. We cannot make such directions for promoting those Stenographers as Private Secretaries, who are not even party before us, nor they came before the Tribunal for promotions at that time, therefore, we do not agree with the submissions of the appellant on this point, as cases for selection grade are processed according to law and are to be approved by the competent Authority after due process in accordance with the procedure laid down under the rules, and after approval by the competent Authority, necessary notification/office order is to be issued. We find that no injustice in the case of the appellant was done."
5. We do not find any infirmity in the above reasoning. The petition has no merit, therefore, leave is refused.
6. Leave refused. A.A./M 80/S