ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared null and void proceedings of 29th meeting of High Power Selection Board (HPSB) in which juniors were recommended for promotion from Grade-21 to Grade-22 while ignoring seniors.
The court also struck down the rule that permanently disqualified officers from promotion if they were considered twice but not promoted to Grade-22.
However, the court rejected the plea to declare the constitution of High Power Selection Board illegal in the absence of prime minister and upheld the legality of meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. Justice Inam Amin Minhas of IHC issued a 63-page judgment in the case regarding non-promotion of seven Grade-21 bureaucrats to Grade-22. The court partially accepted petitions of seven bureaucrats — Muhammad Asad Islam Madni, Murtaza Khan, Sohail Ali Khan, Asif Saifullah Paracha, Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, Awais Nauman Kundi and Ms Amna Imran.
The court declared unlawful the rule of permanent disqualification after being overlooked twice for promotion, stating the amendment making officers ineligible in the future after being passed over twice is contrary to law. It observed even if an officer improves their service record, such a rule deprives them permanently of promotion.
According to the judgment, the minutes of HPSB meeting revealed officers were denied promotion based on negative assessments, describing them as lacking integrity, competence and decision-making ability, and labeling them as having average or below-average performance.
The court directed the High Power Selection Board to reconsider promotions of petitioners, emphasizing decisions must be based solely on official service records rather than personal information or unverified impressions.
