LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has set aside the process of appointments in the district judiciary of Multan for lack of transparency and directed the registrar to place the matter before the administrative committee of the LHC for fixation of responsibility and consequent action against the officials who committed illegalities and irregularities.

“Transparency is a tool, not only for ensuring but for showing that the procedure adopted is unbiased, provides equality of status and opportunity to each eligible candidate, for achieving the goal of recruiting the most suitable person,” Justice Shahid Jamil Khan observed in his judgement released on Saturday.

Several petitions were filed against the recruitment on various posts by the Multan district and sessions judge alleging illegalities in the procedure, lack of transparency and favouritism.

The posts of junior clerk (BS-11), process server (BS-7), driver (BS-5), naib qasid (BS-3) and watchman (Chowkidar) (BS-3), were advertised. Except for the posts of watchman the procedure for appointment on all other posts was through written tests and interviews.

Justice Khan declared the whole process for the appointments null and void with a direction to the LHC registrar to place the matter before the administrative committee for consideration to appoint an inquiry committee.

The judge further directed the registrar to place a record of appointments in all the districts of Punjab by respective district & sessions judges and by senior civil judges before the administrative committee for approval.

The registrar shall also place the rules, regulations and laws, relevant for recruitment of ministerial staff in subordinate courts, before the administrative committee, for their consideration to bring them in harmony with Articles 192(1), 202, 203 and 208 of the Constitution.

Justice Khan referred to a famous aphorism of Lord Hewart that “justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.” He observed that the philosophy underlying manifestation and transparency was to maintain the confidence of the general public in the system.

“Selection and appointment of right person for right job is the bedrock of social justice,” the judge added.

KHWAJA ASIF CASE: A duty judge of an accountability court on Saturday adjourned hearing of an inquiry of illegal assets and money laundering initiated against former defence minister Khwaja Asif.

The former minister appeared before the court on his own as he had been released on bail by the Lahore High Court.

Asif arrived at the federal lodges in Wafaqi Colony, Johar Town, as all five accountability courts had been shifted there from the judicial complex.

Several other courts falling under the control of the federal government had also been relocated from the judicial complex.

Three special courts central, a customs court and a special court for control of narcotics have also been shifted from the complex to Lytton Road.

The district consumer court has also been shifted to a rented building in Riwaz Garden.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2021