HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court’s Hyderabad circuit comprising Justice Faisal Kamal Alam and Justice Khadim Hussain Tunio on Tuesday issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, Sindh Local Government Board chairman, Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) secretary and controller examination, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman for Nov 22 on a joint constitutional petition filed by 16 candidates, who were not selected by the commission in the recently held examination for the posts of municipal officer (MOs).

The bench also issued a notice to additional advocate general (AAG) with directives to file para-wise comments with advance copy to petitioners’ counsel before Nov 22 when court would take up the matter.

The petitioners are represented by Advocate Sajjad Ahmed Chandio.

They stated that the SPSC through a Nov 28, 2021 advertisement had invited applications for 465 posts of MOs in BS-17, 698 posts of town officers in BS-16 and 117 posts of assistant accounts officers in BS-16 in local government.

They claimed that they had passed the written examination for the post of MOs on July 27, 2023

but in the second phase, which was viva voce, they fell prey to nepotism and corruption backed and encouraged by the powerful feudal and political system of Sindh.

They stated that a bare reading of the (SPSC) press release of results showed mala fide and appeared to have been displayed dishonestly, contrary to the specific directions of the apex court and Sindh High Court with regard to the publication of results.

They pointed out that marks of successful candidates were not disclosed on July 27 and same practice was adopted in a second press release dated Oct 19.

They prayed court to direct the respondents to re-conduct the written examination and interviews for the post of MOs.

They also urged court to order contempt proceedings against delinquent SPSC officers for not complying with directives of SC and SHC.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2023