GOVERNMENT OF SINDH through Secretary, Home Department and others
This civil petition for leave to appeal is directed against the judgment of the High Court of Sindh, Hyderabad Circuit, whereby constitutional petitions filed by the respondents for issuance of appointment letters as Sub-Inspectors of Police were allowed. The respondents had applied pursuant to a public advertisement, qualified the written test, and were recommended by the Selection Committee for Nawabshah District. However, due to political pressure and directives from higher authorities, appointments were made through an extraneous list not in accordance with prescribed rules, thereby depriving the qualified candidates of their legitimate expectation. The Supreme Court observed that the Superintendent of Police concerned had conceded that appointments were made bypassing the proper procedure and that the Additional Advocate-General was unable to defend the government's stance. Furthermore, the Court noted that identical matters concerning police appointments and terminations had previously been dealt with and dismissed by the Supreme Court. Finding no grounds for interference, the Supreme Court declined leave to appeal and dismissed the petition.
- Whether candidates recommended by a Selection Committee after qualifying a test have a legitimate expectation of appointment?
- Can appointments to public posts be made on the basis of lists approved by higher authorities in deviation from established rules and procedure?
- Whether the Supreme Court will interfere with a High Court judgment directing the issuance of appointment letters to wrongfully bypassed candidates?
' HAMID ALI MIRZA, J.---This civil petition for leave to appeal is directed against the judgment dated 5-7-2001 in Constitution Petition No,D-191 of 1996 (Abdul Jabbar and 5 others v. Government of Sindh and 4 others) whereby the said appeal was allowed by learned Division Bench of the High Court of Sindh, Hyderabad Circuit with direction to the petitioners to issue appointment letters of the respondents.
2. Brief facts of the case are that the respondents in pursuance of advertisement in Daily Jang dated 1-10-1994 applied for the posts of Sub-Inspector of Police and after having qualified the written test and having been recommended by the Selection Committee were placed on merit for Nawabshah District. However, because of political pressure some other persons were appointed against the posts to which the respondents were recommended by the Selection Committee and thereby respondents were not issued appointment letters, hence they filed Constitution petitions before the High Court of Sindh, Hyderabad Circuit which petitions were allowed as per impugned judgment.
3. We have heard learned counsel for the petitioners and respondent No,1 in person and perused the record.
4. The learned Division Bench of the High Court in the impugnedjudgment has observed that "S.P.
Nawabshah has exposed the attitude of concerned authority and has stated that appointments were made on the basis of list approved by the Government of Sindh and the action was taken as per direction of the higher authorities which mode of appointment was not in accordance with the rules and procedure and thereby persons appearing in test and qualifying the interview who had legitimate expectation for appointment were deprived." It has also been observed that learned Additional Advocate-General who had appeared was unable to defend the stand taken by the S.P.
In his comments and showed his helplessness. We have already dismissed Civil Petition No,771-K of 2001 (Senior Superintendent of Police and others v. Makhdoom Ayaz Ahmed Siddiqui) on 28-11-2001 which was identical case to that of the petitioner. In Civil Petition for Leave to Appeal No,771-K of 2001, in para.5 of the judgment, this Court has observed that Amir Murtaza, Muhammad Hussain, Abdul Majeed, Faisal Shafi, Atta Muhammad, Ghulam Qadir, Abdul Ghani and Rafiq Ahmed had challenged their termination orders and they were re-instated against which Government of Sindh had preferred Civil Petitions for Leave to Appeals Nos.695-K of 1999, 256-K to 259-K, 261-K, 262-K and 267-K of 1999 before this Court but leave to appeal was declined and petitions were dismissed by this Court on 25-4-2000 and 8-7-1999. Review Petitions Nos.37-K to 43-K of 1999 against the order dated 8-7-1999 were also preferred but the same were also dismissed on 22-12-1999 by this Court. The said petitions were also for the appointment of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police.
5. In the circumstances, we find no ground for our interference in this petition, consequently leave to appeal is declined and the petition is dismissed.
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