MUHAMMAD MUZAFFAR MALIK vs PAKISTAN, through Secretary and others

This petition for leave to appeal was filed before the Supreme Court of Pakistan challenging an administrative matter regarding the petitioner's employment status. The petitioner, a Sub-Inspector, had been absorbed into the Punjab Constabulary. The core legal question before the Court was whether the petition remained maintainable given that the primary relief sought—absorption into the service—had already been granted. The Court held that since the petitioner had already been absorbed into the Punjab Constabulary, the petition had become infructuous. Regarding the petitioner's additional grievances concerning seniority and associated service benefits, the Court declined to adjudicate these issues, noting that the petitioner had not exhausted appropriate administrative remedies. The Court dismissed the petition while granting the petitioner liberty to pursue his claims regarding seniority and benefits before the relevant competent authority. The key principle laid down is that where the primary relief sought in a petition has been rendered moot by subsequent events, the petition becomes infructuous, and ancillary service disputes should be addressed through proper departmental channels rather than by invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.