Zulfiqar Ali & Others (Petitioner) VS Province of Sindh & Others (Respondent)

It S^J -rlcn-'. ? S*r^ $".-, z C"i-\ S^l-r.rb- =,Ft\\sv r^i.LAtrQ-. li IND 2&t CP No. D 5450 of 2023

Zulfiqar Ali & others

.Vs Provlnco of Slndh & others

t"ilGH COU OI? SINDI-I

(ir/rr/losirion gr/'/Jerrc/t. I)'/J'

Mr. Justlce Muhammad l(arlm Khan Agha Mr. Justice Adnan-ul-l(arlm Memon

Dntcs of henring: l2rl' Decetnber2024

Decided orr: l7tl' December 2024

(a)Judgurent approved for Reporting Ycs

CERTIFICATE.

Certified tliat the judgment */Order is based upon or enunciates a prirrciple of larv +/decides a question of Iaw which is of first irnpression/distinguishes/. Over-rules/

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reverses/explaius a previor,rs decision.

* Strike out rvhichevcr is not applicable.

NOTE: - (i) This slip is ouly to be used r.vhen some action is to be taken.

(ii)If the slip is used, the Reader must attach it to the top of ttre first page of the judgment.

(iii)Reader ntust ask the Judge r,witing the Judgment rvhether the Judgment is approved for reporting.

(iv)Those directions rvhich nre not to tre used should be deleted.

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IN TT{HI{IGH COURTOTSINDII AT KARACHI

c,t'No. m--lil:t or 2ot3 I-'* .rr*'i ,ir *d- J -:3 \ I I"t,tt ttu,rfi Al I 5lr' N*t'i llut .i" I tr r i Illt*littt. r\rlrtlt, 5ul'lrrtprltrr t rl4 Nr"x l\lut tAhllrt AII Kt tr)stt 51 o lilrulnttt illtttlu f,r lrluslirn. Atlult, F Sutt-ln*ftttrrr

3.FnRuoe [trumuru $ltl h{ulramntad I'lashi r hluslinr, Atlutt, 5ub-lnspt-ctor

4 ABDUL l*rnru Annast t 5lo Ahtul Rehman h{uslim, Adult, Sublnspector

I 5. ]nn+sHun Arr Soouno 5/o Wazir AIi Soomra Musllrn, Adult, Suhlnspector

6.Mux*mMAD Aumq CH*Nr+a L 5/o Noor Muhamrnad Channa Muslim, Adult, $ublnspector i

I 7, Agpur Qa,vooM BURIRo i t I $/o Dur Muhamrnad l(han f* Muslim, Adult, lt Sublnrpector t

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8, KITNIR MUuen,tMAD MAI.AII

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S/o Allah Dino Ii Murljm, Atlult,

$ub-lnrpector

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l 9, H*ntu Bux F S/o Muhammad Moosn

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3, Mu*lim, Adult,

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$ublnnpectsr f

10.MuxrrnAn furhIEIl I, S/o Ghulam Nabi t Mustirn, Adult,

Sublnspector il

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r i 11. Ilnsrui[R Arrruun iI 5/n Ali htarda SIralr

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I Muslim, Atlult, { $utr-llrslrrlt.tur

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t It- ] nt tnrut;t I Ct IAr.Jt]l(] d Ii/u Alt Anr+ar Klr,rrt Irlrrslittt, Atlttlt, i. tf, Srrlt-lrrsrt't:lttr tt t r3. il{nztlntt Al.l

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$1 CI **lultntttntnr,l I Inssntt

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t Nluslitrt, Atltttt,

$tr[>lrrspt'ctttf

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14.Irrmlnr Alt LanllAK h

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Slo Atxlul Rchrrnn l h{uslim, Adult, Sub-lnsPector t

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15.AUnur Qnvoonn i t l-r 5/o Dur Muhammad Muslim, Adult,

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Sub-lnsPector

/ 16. MUZNTAR PANHWAR

S/o Muhammad Hussain I Muslim, Adult, SublnsPector

17.Anput ]*nnnn Mnrm S/ o F aiz Muharnmad Malik Muslim, Adult, Sub-tnspector

I8. STrNr*UAR RODNANI 5/o Haji Eido Khan Muslim, Adult, $ub-lnrpqctor

I9, Mmruoo[ AtI S/o Shulnm Qsdlr Murlim, Adult, $ub-lnapector

EO, HETUUNDUTLAII

5/o ltehmatullalr Murlim, Adult, $uhlnupgctor,.., r. .,..,,r +. r.,,, r,,. +,. .. r | * .,, e, r, *,r PETITIONERS

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vIRsus I. PRovrucg oF Swnu Tluough Smretary Horne Department, Government of Sindh, Sindh Secretariat, Karachi.

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l lrD Irusrrcron GTruERAL or Porrcu Srunrr tt:

Central Police Office,

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I.l. Chuntlrigarh Roatl, Karachi

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t r 3. AsststnNT I NstrECroR GrNunn L Po lICffi srlrnllsl IMENT-I t $ Cerrtral Policc Oftice t

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I.l. Chunrlrignrh ltontl, Knrachi l t r It 4. DET'UTY IT,{SI'Ufl-OIT G [N EITA L POUCU t I"Iyclerabad Itangc, it r I-Iyderabnrl RESPONDENTS

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r f t CO TITUTIO L ION DER CLE 1

OFTHE CONSTITUTION LAIVIIC REPUBLTC OF

PAKISTAN,7973

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It is respectfirlly subutltted on behalf of the Petitioners as follows: * t i

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I t That the Petitioners are Sub-lnspector (B$la) Sindh Police, That the iI Petitioners have impeccable and unblemished career spanned over

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r a considerable period. Needless to say, that the Petitioners served their employer with honesty, zeal and dedication. The Petitioners 1" are aggrieved with change of their date of appointment in violation of settled principles of law relegating them to a position much below their batch-mates and this is affecting their promotion prospects. This petition is heing filed by the petitioners ttuough their lawfully constitu ted attorney.

Copy of Power of Attorney is attached and marked a$ annexure "At'

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2.That the Respondent is the Secretary Home Department, Government of Sindh and is administrative head of all provincial law enforcement agencies includine sindh pnlice. The Respondent No.Z is Inspector General Poltce Sindh and is organizational head of Sindh Police. The Respondent No.2 and 3 serdur urgctuts ot Sindh Police and havc carried on the orders of l{,espondent No.? impugned in this petition ffs such have been arrayed ffs respondents. Being public functionaries are bound to follaw law and exercise discretion in a structured way rather than on their whims and wishes.

A 3. That the Petitioners were appointed as Assistant Sub-lnspector (BS 09) Sindh Police puisuant to recommendations of Sinclh Public Service Cornmission submitted to the Home Department on 29h April. 2002. The said reconrmendations were ultimately forwarded

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Prcrrrrl:

,llr, "l*ttit'r ,lluhnntwnil l(srfun Iihan Aghn ,l I r. .l n +tlt'e tl i n n n - ul - l{ n rl m,l I emon []J' Nrr, I]'ff't{l uf III4J Ilctiliortrrs: Lrrll'irlnr Ali li/n l'{shi IIux antJ n{her:r lhrnu;lh [tr. h{*lik Hacem lqh*|" Atlt'*rcrttc

Itcspondcnt 'lhs Stnlc lhrnugh fu{r. Ali Safdar [-]epar, Assistant Advtrcate ficncral. liindh

Dstc of llcrring: 17.t2.3$24

llstc nf Judgnrenr: t7.12.2024

-I U t} G.M T N.T

Illohammad Ksrim Khan Aghu, J. The rslief sought by the petitioner as p€r the Prayer in his petition is set out as under for ease of re ferrnce.

l. Declare that the impugncd letter dated 30.05.2023 and all orders issued in compliance of impugned letter are illegal, malafide, without jurisdiction, discriminatory and in violation of principles of natural justice, equity and faimess and set aside the same.

2.Direct the Respondent No.Z to treat the date of recommendations of SPSC as the date of appointment of the petitioners.

3.Restrain the Respondents No.Z and 3 from convening meeting of DpC for promotion of Sub-lnspectors (BS-16) from Assistant Sirhtnspecrors (BS-la) of Hyderabad Range rill final disposal of caprioned perition.

4.Any otlrer relief this Ilonorable court may deem appmpriate and Froprr in the circumstances of tlre cBSc.

5, Crant cost of this petition.

7.The brief facts' of thc case nre thnt in essenre the Sind Puhlic Sen'ice Commisrion (SPSC) vide its lettcr dnlctl 2q.04.2002 nddressed ttr lhe Secrctnry llome []cpartment Covcrnment of Sindh (fiOS] after ccrrying out nll nccessary codal formllities il:rfiIllntenrlcd thc petiti*ners s.nd othcrs vin s list for appointment ngfiinst lhe posts o[ Assistnnt Suh Inspcctors (ASl's) police (BPS

9)in Sindh.'the fiOfi thcn scnt a letter duted 01.06,?00? ro the lnspecror Ocneral of Folice (lfill) liintlh contuining the list for appointment to the respsctive po$ts fls reronlfttendcd by the SFSC.

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3.Accordingly by Order {Appointment ) dated I 1,0?.2002 rhe petitioners snd others were appointed ss ASI's in the Sindh police in various districts

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lltriltrgltfltrt liindh. Wlrr,n ftgrvrlt'cr thr .cclrinrity tisr nns issucd rhe pctitioners lrur{ tlirsntirfit'd rt'it1 1l1r t;ul}r hccnltsc tlcspitr ntrl tfuc pcrititrncrs hcing srlccled tttttl l'rcttlttnrcntlrd uu lh{ *nrrrt' rl;ly lry thc 5lt.q(" n nurnhcr of tlrc petlrioncrs hnd lrrett git'rtt diffrrcnl tlnrrr tf nppninlnrarl rrhich rflectetl thcir inter sc seniority Ittrl Itt'ttrc lhe lrilitilrrt.rr rrrrn'r'tt llrr liirrtlh licrvicc "['rihunnl fur rcttrcssal ol llrtrir 6ritr'finm'c.

't, In lltr nleflntinu tlx- I(iP tiiutllr vi*lc nrrler tlrrtrd {}(r.01,201? after ('\illllillillg lln- Sliet'nrrt.rr of llu' pclilinncrn whirlr relrrled tc their inter sc rr'rtitrrill' *nlffcrl lhnt tlrr rl;rk- rtl"*ppoittlrttclrl uf nll such pctiti+rncrs/Afil's rvhn \\{r"r"'irll lurrt nltlrr snr}tr'lr,rtch hilt'r: lltr-'ir rlnlc of nppoirtlnrent as the same as the tlirtc tlut tlrr.v rverc rccrrrrunnlrlcd hy tlrc SIt,lC. ltcing satisficd with thc lfip's ord*r th* pctilitlntrs tvitlrifucrv tltrir casc lrom l"lrc Sindh fiervice Tribunal.

5.'l"ltr.' issuc of Inter sc scniority bctrvccn thc petitionms again reared its rrpll' lread rvherr thc lrtter d*ted 30.05.2023 reproduced below for ease of rcll-rcttcc rurs issued rvhich set the earlier ICP's order at naught. Hence the pctitioners lraroc upproaclred this court to set aside thc aforesaid letter;

"fiovernment oflSindh Police Deparlment

No. 8?S?/E-lUlnsp Karachi, dated 30-05-2$23 / To,

The Dcputy lnspectorCeneral of Police, Ilvtternlxrd Rsnue, SUBJECT: TIUI|ChITNTIOBIIER DaTED oF ,gJNItH $EFJICE Tr{rr}UNAL rN sERvrcE AqI,.HALS NgS. 455i {.5q|',457 & 4[I Or ?qle FrLf,p By rNSpEcTgR NOORUTLATT Hrro$.q & oTrrf,R,sl

Please relcr to ywur olfiru letrer No.F-stt-l[/t04?A dsrcd 2fi,1.202J, on the above subiect.

2- I nm rlirectetl la state that il tentative serroriry fisI ot Inspectors (81'S'16) al Sinlh Pollce,lra.r circrrlnted vide tlris o;pce Ierrer ffo. Ttfl!-Jt0l$-llllnsp dut::d 15,05,2018, tor filing objections aarJ-i/arims, i! nn1,. Tlrc lmpectar Generul of l'ollr;u Sirrr/lr conslituted o departntental coninilrwe vtde cfo',r order No. fr,tTt.1}/E-illlnsp thted -t0.oo.aots unrfer ths Clurlrfiurtshlp of lthll, t${tlfllslollIlslmrent *t Trutnlng,sr'fldh to deckle the c I d m.r h hJ rc I t m t tl I *l hy he lp pc I I an ftrspecrors. t

J- Tlti tawfiltlw rqllrld thu rypellunt lnr;rcrors, htsrrl them in fernanfrom lg,tlX'l(ll0 m ILAl.fitg nmiirl.ro giuerr'them sr4fici*rrr ruur ro crpktln ilrclr tthJrrtlttttt un tlru 0nrls a!&taunrcntitryer,irlence$.--The conmittee ptru.sul ill tlu relsvmt r.nlet, legil aiptttsrrrr/s(,ri,Ice ftcortl a{the appellant hupectors unil ananlnously dwldul to wlthdrnw,r,esnicl nil' nnte- fute#tnullfit,t ,!ol_u !.nfi,illfitment *,hlch wfie grfitrted on llre iasir o/ apprtwuaffer lill€n Lrrusrl fl rru nuthorlty t.i. sf.sc and any othir autlrcrlty, ns yruler allurn-ll whlch ro4r coprnr aiicate6 to all rtanges iysiuAn Itolic* tncludtng !ly! llylernhail frange vtdt letter No. 4g.1g,s000/E/E- I lllnsp ilated I 2.0.1.10 I E, I Etrn-tl fi,r::,.!::! provtsto.n tn poltce Rutefor nodilication of date af -app appo t, t tne nt. Th e c r a r ms.for mod iJiia t r o n o! o in t ntin t da t e s _,*::!,1!ytr,y,a!t ,[r, fii;;;; i,r,,ua by any authority

ctfe tru( nainmrnabre. Irmce, dr appeats for itortificotiott a!

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.q" ln ydrx, $ the rrrtrrlr' illrrlt'llrrrt tt tl)il tilttdh, l{nrrchlr lt lr rt'q#{llfil rrr plr*rr rrlnr?l / st'lthilrntt, dI tnle-itlti / m*ilffIed fule { ttgtJvfinlslrrtnl grarfrr/ ,rr ,l,ffr il'Imt tr'{'r(, $pptltttt'i thmalglt ,Iln{fi l'ahllr .$r'ri'JrY {hnrmLtr1orr /Tf,lfl rtr rlll ur *lhrrs, nnil plnre thelr wnlorltlt rtt"r'rtr*Iiflg tt lfirjr rr'll,rIrtr / nfiuil ilnte ol qryolfilfltl,flt! ltnt*nil t{ r(-rr{rryrffrf ve / m*liJird rhrt* of tryyolntnrcnt* (holtl nrltlcd} {$iullAI h/cl,) QIrilI [r.tiP, AICI'/EIiTA BLISI IM TNT"I

FOIT INSPI]CTOII CENI]RAL OF POLTCE

SICRETARY TO COVERNMENT OF StNDlI*

6.I'hc first issue to b,c detenninc.j by this court is whcther the petition is nraintainnble keeping in vierv Article ? I2 of the Constitution.

7.Learncd counsel for the petitioner contended that the petition uras nrsinrainable and relicd on the following authorities in support of this I contention; Ilr. Snyyid A. S" Pirzad* V The Chief Secretary, Servites flnd Atlnrinistrstion Deparlment anrl others (20?l SCMR 1087), Ghulnm llussain lSaluch V Li*quat Ali Baloch (1999 SCMR 483) and Abdul Hameetl ,tnjum nnd others V Ftdcration of Ilnkistnn and olhen$ (PLD 2010 Supreme Court 857).

S. On the other hand learned APG contended that the petition r+,as not mninlainahle and relied on the lollowing authorities in support of his contention; Hlrtlilullnh Kuktr V Ilrovincial llolice Clricf of Bnloclristnn (?021 SCIvIR ll6fJ), syml Arghnr Ali .$hnh v Knleem Arslrnd (40?4 SCMR SsI), Syed Itludrlarsr Sh*lr 'I'ermlr.i V llesh$ryur Iligh Court, Peshsrvnr through Itrgirtr*r, Itrsllulvilr $nd othsr-q (10? I SCMR I l6) (). We hnve c$n$idcred tlre frnntentions of the parties ttnd examined the rucarl ns wcll Bf; tllc cs$s lsw relicrl upon by the pnrties.

I0. Tlre lirst point to nolt is thst the petitioners hnve sll been frFpointed as ASI's in the Sindh polic* Fur$usnt to the rscomfiIendations of the SPSC; that the background to the dispute and the impugned letter reproduced above

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undoubtcdly point to the fscl that the issue in hand relafes to inter ss seniority of tlre pelitioncr#Afil's who wsre sll recommended by the SpSC on ths same date for appointment' Hence we conclude that the issue at hand relates to the terms

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iltld conditions service o[ civil scrv*nls as is further evidenced by the fact that at first inslance befr:rs rhe lfiP's order the petitioners/ASl's had already appronched the Sindh Scrvicc Tribunal lor redrcssal of their grievances.

I l. l*hus *,c lintl tlrc pctitiottcrs to be civil servants whose case relates to inlcr sr: seniority npd finil thnl the pctition is not maintainable ketping in view Articlc 2l? of tlrrr Constitulion. We *rc lbrtified in tlris rcspect by the case of Ir.lrnlilullnfu hnknr V lrovincinl I'ulict Chicf of ltnlochi*lnn (2021 SCMR I l {rS) u'hich is of n sirrrihr nilturc rvhich hcld ns unilcr in material part;

"$. ,,ls lnr ns fit fint r;ttr.rtlurr n'IlIcIr roulil ltit tltc yery roolr of this ctst is tht rr.trnntpffirrr rffrri.nlir-tlnn by thc lmnrci IIIgh Coarl ol Bnlochlslnn undtr Artkle i,99 il!the Cottslittttiott itt the frcsenc{ ttlspctilic bnr provlded nuirr Article 1t 2(l) ol thc Cottstitutlon h canrcrnad, thert i* tro deninl tt thit firct thrtl lht responrlrnts frrng enrylty'ers of llnlochistnn Polic* Force nre civil .trrrrrflLr nnd the nvtttct pertniuittg Ia rlrsrrflrrce o{ Joint smiority lisls sperifimlll' relokts ta thdr krrrrf, ntul conditions o! strvice, whlch pnrlicnlnrly resls E'iIItin the Juris$iction rf Balochistar ,Sen'ic i Tribunat. The learned High Cour.t nninly assumed jurisdictian on the ground that at the tinrc af p*ssing o! the intllttgned judgment, tlrc frsloclisron -gervice Tribunal ltsr not .furclional. The Sen,ici Trthuno/ l,c"r nar non-functional for an indefinite p*riod. Il /ras been brought to our notice that the earlier Chairman af the Bulochi.rtrur .Servic e Tribunol remained performing his duties with effect lronr 06.12.2016 to 0S.fi.lltg and thereiftir the"incunbent Chairman $'or appointed on 05.05.202A u'hereas Constiruional Petition No. 334/20t9 was filerl on 01.A4.201g rrlrer the Tribunal H,rr$ operationa!. Similarly, Corrstittttional Petition No. 246/iA08 v,as initiotty liled on 11,05.2008 and ttlter llrc iuclgment of this Court tlateel 06"t t.2018 the smended petition +ttts ftleil on 24.09"201i. On these d*tts also. rlw Tribunal was functional. Therefore, it tnn be sofely mid that the wry ittstltutiott a{ the Cottstittttionnl petitiotts wrc against the Constitutlonal ruandste, Il fs nn estublirhed prlnclple o{ lnw that the courts fiisafie lheir Jurisiliction through pfirticulttr low rottftrring t ptrticulnr jrrisdiction. Article 212(2) ttf the Constitutian speclfictlly places tn tmbargo ott all other courls t:xrtpt .$eryice Tribunal to grfiftt tttt injanction, ma*e fin! order or 'entertain' ony proceedings in respett of $fiy rfifilir,r rel*tlng to lhe terrfis urtrl condilions of serllce even it they are mnln tide, ultra vircs ar corilnt rtott juiice, It would be in order ta repraduce the ssid Articte 2|2(2) of the Constittttiott, which reads as under:*

(2)Nonvithstanding onything hereinbefore contained where any Administrative Court or Tribunal is established under clarce (l), no olher tourt shall grant an injunclion, make any order or efltertqtn ilny proceedings in respect of nry firdtter to which the jurisdiction of sttch Admlnlsffstive Court or Tribanal exlends and all proceedings in respect of any such matter which nwy be pending befure such other court inmttdintely before the establishment of the Administrrtive Cottrt or Tribunal; other lhan an appeal pending betore the Sapreme Courl, shall abats on such establishment:

Provided thal the prouisions of this clause slrall not apply ta sn Adminisffalive Coart ar Tribatml established under iln Acl of a Provincial Assembly rrrless, at the request of that Assembly made in the farm al a resolution, lv{ajlis-e-Shoora {Parllament) by law extends the provisfons lo swh a Court or Tribunal."

9.The word 'tnlertain' used in Article 212(2) of the Constitution is o! stgniJicant intportonce. This mefits lhat any petition or procetdlng relating to the tsrnts ind canditlorc of service even shoutd nor bi enteilained hy thi I High Court in its €onititutional jurisdiction under Artlcle /99 of the Consrirurion. In view af th.e facls ani circunrslarces of this case, entertiining and then proceeding with the constitutional petitions aoruunts to defeatiig lhe express Constilulianal mandate under ivhich Tribunal ts vestid with juristliction ro deal with the mailers a! civir serv,at rs. This courr in fie case

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if,f-Uaa1o*u'l.rsr,.fr{,,.ft '',

"rCg, Artiile ttl ofIfte []orr.ttitrttion ntt.rlt ffit'lltrist/,lctiott of High Corrfs nrrrl riuil Crrurls irt rtsltt:tt at thr nttttcrs pe rluining lo lernts - ooa .orojiii,,r,., ol rir,il .rt'rt'otrrr. li oth* tt'rtrds. l/tr ;rrouu ians af ,{rlicle JIJ ,ftr rror cort'rr (r corc urrtnl iurisiictian lo civi/ Cotrrl.t, FIfgft Court.* rrrrrj J"rflrrirrrrLr. Tlrc ot'*tar tnnlentytlnted under lltp said drricle is rr 1.rumrirrrtirlr1;l fitmfirilnd, fini, tlrcrefttrc, at rrrces.ril;' rf.ttrirr.f tJry .irrrdstlirtion o! rit'il c{}}rrl.r nrtd lligh fhrrrts ott the -!nlts strlrTecl, rn,lriillr sr;rrrrrt,l;, rvithin llw t'.rrllt.tit'r rlomnin ol Iribunrrls,,,

10./n -4srr,fulftrlr ffrrlrud-u*Jlltlr.ruru lu$!-Nilr*r*( t 99It .TCI'fIt } l }9), this Corrrl /rrld rr.r ilnrftlr,..

"Citr*stltrrrirrnrrl prlltrorr wtdtr Art. 1?fi of the Constilulion i.r not rrrrfnlcirrrlfilr fir'c cil,il "rc,rrrrr/ in rtl*littn lrt utty mnlter connecltd x'itlr tfie fr?rrl$ rtrrrl r-+rrrr/iidor.c o/ scn'jc:r' in rtsptct wlrcreaJ tlrc .\'crt'fct, Irilrrrntrl ftos yurur dicliutt, in I'iclt' t{ Article 212 of tht Corrslitutf on of Prr,ti.tlcrt. Ordrrs, et'r'tr fl mal* fide, ultra vires or rdrdrnt rorr pr/irv, lell rtil/rrtt the amhit of Service Trihunal and Trrfsrficriou ilCi*il Courts incluiing High Court is ipsotucto oilsttd ns reslrll o/fiarrfir.gprouisfr;tt of Article 2lI atthe Constitutiort."

I !. The.T6lr,r ryrr.r rlrE vlrrr of tltis Court in Natiortfil.{s-ieilhly Sesletarial r,.,,lfcn:<ror "4inrfd t2ttl5 SCnlft 253). Ifie trril iurisdictian is exffaordinary i7rl, orJre, ilras to bt e"rrrrise{, sparingly. Tlrc iurisdiction conterre-d an llre trfig/r Corrrrs under Artidc l,99 of ,Ite Corlstilttliott li an extraordinary relief intl tlrc sante lrcrs rc be ererri.rerf in aid ofiustice and not to interfere in Trrrisr/rctfo4s at othtr slalutory torums. Ilrfun tlrc latv has provided an od*quute rcruedl,, mnstiltttionnl jurisdictiort under Arlicle 199 of tht Constittttiott tafinot hc e.tcrcisrc/ {rs th* ^rflfi,e ltas to be' exercised in excclttiortal circunrJrflncss, rr/riclr could justifu invoking the saidTrrisdiction. It has time and agoin been said &y t/ru Court that lendency ta bypass remedy I provided under releyant slatue &y resortirg Io cons littttional jurisdiction is to &e {riscariraged so thut legislotive intwl is ttot defeated. Tlw same is meanl to &e e.rerejsed in extraortlindrl,f,jrcurnslances and not in rtm af the nti/J crrses.

leorned High Court alter exharrslirrg the reurcdy of filing departmental uppeul. Therefore, Hts drre cantpelled lo observe that lhe very constilutional petitiorrs v'ere not nminlainable before the learned High Courl".

12.As such the petition is dismissed as being not maintainablE however by lt's)' of complete fairness rve hereby direct the IOP Sindh to once again consider lhe inter se seniority of the petitioners tfuough a speaking order within 6 months of the date of this petition in lerms of the findings $et out below in material part in tlte case of Syerl llammnd Nuhi elc V Inspertor General Ilrlire I'}unjub (X023 SCMR 58{).

"'1. Ile ltoue heard the learned cowrsel lor lhe parties and llr. Komran Adil, Dlfr {Legal) at soms lengtlr ond lmve carefutty [oou through the case lmt,cired at ilrc bar, {a wsII d.t, the Poliffi fio/*r, t93i (-Follce-Ruler'} and police onfun 10A2. The queuian hrfore rrs ri t&e rrode o! deterntinatiin af seniority alu palice.aficy holdingtlreposl of lttspecror inihe panjab police under the Police rtrrlr'.r. The *nstvw b the i6rid grreslion is clenrly provided under.Rnle 12.2(3) of the Pollee.fiules, rt&iclr ls reprrritr,ed herewieilor ronuroience:

12.2. Senlorlty old P:',!o!!on. - {t) The seniarrry o/.{*sistanl Saperintendents af Palice ts.re.*t!3te!!!:hr onders passedlrom time to time by-the Se6y.eifi I ot$tate and the Cenff:al GoyernnreffL

Jt'o Probafianary lssisrnnt superintendenr a! police shall be

'r:;:::;':;:{i,y,try;i1tr;i-!l:l:::ix;;#:;;;,i*oi,,runtinre,'f,.f t

rl

Y

+o

,.^ lrt'olttttittrttLrl, /.1ti11afiil Sry)erittlarlenl td Police vho does nal '!.'.'."1i[!' frJ, /r,nsigg t/rr',rr rurttltittrt/Jolt.r wlthltt ltt'o ysers, or al the lirst t'-tturtjtrorfttri rtlier. /i,rr;l'uru*, ltttrtt tlrc thtc o! hts joittltrg tlrc servlce, will be rt'Irrolrrlft,ni Grrr cr? t,nent sertlcc,' provided tlrul tltc Provlnclul Governnrcnt 'tYrrrll fim'e /)or'rr. fo ru/rr.t tlris nfu h .rpeclul co$e:r, wlrct lhe Probationury r'1'.tr.Ifotr/ ,$rrpcr.rir/rrrr dent ttf l'ollcc Is likcly to nrc*e a good ltolice otJicer.

{2!!t,: rtt/cs gpr,r,nrirtg tlrc prohnttott ruti sartiorlty o! Dcputy Suporitrtenclenls oJ I'olice oro canraitnd ln lppe ndix i 2, I.

i^ (!' Att o1poiutu1,rnt.r o! enrolled police afilcers ilre on probation aceording ro Itrc niles rir rlrrs cltryter npplicable to esclt rank.

.Serrori4, in lhe mst of ttppcr sultonlil{rlns, rvill hc reckoued in lhe first iuslnnct from late ol Jirsl nppoinlnrcnt, fficers pronrcte1frlm a lower ruuk bcirtg cortsirlereil senior to persCIns oppoiwed dirert on the sfirl.rc iile, and lha seniority of ofricers appoitttcd direct ot the $fifirc ltte being rechoned according to aga Scrrro rity finll, however, be tinally settled by rlntes o{ cortJinnation, the scniority inter w ol several fficers cortJirnrcd on tlrc snnrc dnle being thnt dlotted to ilrcm on tirsl appointnrcnt, Proviileil thot any ollicer wfiose pronwtion or cottfirnmtion is delryed by rc$sott of ltis being on deputatiotr outside his rnuge or ilistrict shall, ott being pronnted or corrlirnrcd, regain the sefiority rvhiclt he originnlly helil vrb-ri- lfs nrry offiwrs prouruled or confirtucd helore him during his deputntiotr.

The seniorily of lo'wer snbordinates shqll be reckonedJrom dates of appotntntent, subject to the conditions of rule 12-24 and provided that a pronruted fficer shall rank senior to an fficer appointed direct to the sanrc rank on the sanrc date.

(emphasis supplied)

I

tuile 12.2(3) pravidw rhal in the first instance the senlority of the upper st$ordinates shall be reckoned i'om date of first appointment, affiiers promoled fi'om a lower ronk being considered senior lo persons appointed direct on the same dale, nni the seniority of fficers rppointed direci on the sfiffie dnte bcirtg rec*oned acconling to nge, The sub-Rule lurther provides lhnt seniority shnll be_finnlly seliled by liles af cor{irntilion, the ieniority iilter se o{ several alJicus cortfirnred ot the sfinre rtote being thnt dlotrei io them au Jirst oppoin_tnwnt, Rure 12.2(j) provides for two stnges for dcterminitry the yenlority, one is prior to tht piobationary period ottri is ti be reckonedfrom thclitst tppoirtlnrcnt uul thefinal seuiori$ is sealeilfront the date al mttirnmtiott-rvhich .is once ttrc peiiotl of probition is suicessftilty crxrrylelwl. Pcriotl of probation is intltortorl as rie'ollicers lroye to undergo vnrious ce_ursc$ /,fi,C e. UI0 onil fiuili!1t the some.-O,rce police officer lms surcessfitlly ttttilcrgrttte lhe snid cotitrsu he starrrls cottlinircd at iie end of the probntionary puiotl- The sejfiorily is once ngoirt icttled, ilris being tlrc tiual swiorily frottt llte iloft o! confirnmtion. The above ru[e is, therefore, venr clesr u::,1r,,,!:::,1::!U tirt of inspectors n,iil be reckonedfrartt the dote ol mrrfirtuiliort of tltc fficarc n,,,t ,rit lront rlte lnte af oppoiiutnterrt',.(bold addcd)

13.The petition is disposed of in the above terms.

t7 /r*f 2.1

HEAD OF TFIE

. BENCHES

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