LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday allowed the civil judges having service experience of eight years to participate in the examination for the post of additional district and sessions judge (AD&SJ).

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed this order on a petition filed by a civil judge, Khurram Virk, who was disallowed to appear in the examination for AD&SJ.

The judicial officer, through his counsel, argued that he had a two-year experience of legal practice along with eight-year service experience as the civil judge. However, he said, the authorities declared him ineligible to appear in the examination.

A provincial law officer told the court the rules for the appointment of an AD&SJ in Punjab required 10-year service experience for a civil judge to appear in the examination for a higher post.

However, the judge allowed the petition and declared all civil judges having eight-year service experience qualified to appear in the examinations.

Published in Dawn, November 29th , 2014