Appointments on merit
KARACHI: An eight-member bench of the Supreme Court has upheld merit by giving instructions to the government to review re-employment of retired officers on contract basis at various top positions. This directive needs to be applauded.
The court observed that such appointments are tantamount to blocking the promotion of other officers waiting for their turns, and had been made, prima facie, in violation of the Civil Servants Act 1973, the Civil Establishment Code (Estacode) and various judgements of the Supreme Court on this subject. Although the rehiring of retired officers has not been ruled out in the Civil Servants Act 1973, which states that “a retired civil servant shall not be re-employed under the federal government, unless such re-employment is necessary in the public interest”, in most instances the prescribed procedure is not adhered to.
The Estacode states: “It has been noticed with concern that contract appointments were made in the past indiscriminately without proper examination of the need thereof and without ensuring observance of the principle of open merit, and equality of opportunity” and goes on to lay down detailed conditions and procedures in making such appointments. It is common knowledge that with every new government comes a barrage of new appointments, most made at the discretion of the chief executive, and sometimes in violation of established rules and procedures. The case of the present government is no different.
Unfortunately, the practice of re-hiring retired officers is not confined to the civil service only. Extension in service and appointments of retired personnel on an ad hoc basis are common in all institutions of the state. It is justifiable in some cases, but in most instances this is done to favour certain individuals or groups. This, in part, explains why the standard of various government services has fallen over the decades. And the message that this gives to young officers is that political contacts, rather than good performance, will determine who gets promoted and that if they do not pander to the whims of their political bosses, they will languish in insignificant positions.
Not only this, but when retired officers are rehired on contract, considerable resentment is created among junior officers. One hopes that the apex court will not only ensure that the government adheres to the law and principle of merit, but that it also implements these same principles while making appointments within the judiciary.
Abdul Sami Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2011.
Source:
Appointments on merit – The Express Tribune