PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday directed the Public Service Commission to allow a candidate to appear in the interview for the post of Senior Research Officer (BPS-18) in the Agriculture and Livestock Department.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Farah Jamshed issued the directive while hearing a writ petition filed by Inamullah Wazir. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Khalid Rehman.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that his client had appeared in the written test conducted by the Public Service Commission and secured 24 marks. He informed the court that there were three available posts and, under the rules, candidates were shortlisted for interviews based on merit.
The counsel contended that previously, five candidates were called for each post, but following an amendment, four candidates per post were required to be shortlisted. However, he said, the commission had called only three candidates per post, which he termed a violation of its own rules.
He argued that had the commission shortlisted candidates in accordance with the law i.e. 12 candidates for three posts, adding that the petitioner would have qualified on merit. He pointed out that candidates with 25 marks had been called for interviews, while his client, who secured 24 marks, was excluded. The counsel requested the court to grant immediate relief, stating that interviews were scheduled for the same and the following day, and if conducted, the petition would become infructuous.
