No More Appointments Under Rule 17-A in Punjab: Government Notification Issued

End of Rule 17-A: A Major Shift in Punjab’s Civil Service Recruitment Policy:

In a significant policy decision, the Punjab Government has officially abolished Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment & Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974. This decision, approved by the Provincial Cabinet and the Chief Minister on 24th July 2024, effectively eliminates the special job quota previously granted to the families of deceased or disabled civil servants. The notification, published in The Punjab Gazette on 26th July 2024, marks a major transformation in the employment landscape for government jobs in Punjab.

The decision aligns with a recent Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that appointing individuals without open competition and merit violates Article 18 of the Constitution. The Court declared such appointments discriminatory and against constitutional provisions ensuring equal job opportunities for all citizens. Furthermore, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has also been directed to withdraw similar job quota policies.

This change will impact thousands of families who relied on Rule 17-A for government employment. However, the government justifies the move as part of broader reforms to ensure transparency, fairness, and merit-based recruitment. Notification Describes;

No.SO(EM-II)17-A-Misc/24
GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB
HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Dated Lahore, the 29 January, 2025

To

Director (Administration)
DPI (Colleges), Punjab,
Lahore.

Is

Subject :-       APPOINTMENT OF JUNIOR CLERKS (BS-11) UNDER RULE-17/A

I am directed to refer to your letter No.1/1-2024/ 29964-65/E-I dated 02.08.2024, received from Director (Administration), DPI, Punjab, Lahore on the subject noted above and to enclose herewith a copy of letter No. SOR-III(S&GAD)2- 60/2024 dated 29.11.2024 received from the Section Officer (R-III), Regulations Wing, S&GAD, Punjab wherein it has informed as under:
1) Rule 17-A has been omitted from the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment & Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974 after approval of the Provincial Cabinet Punjab / Chief Minister, vide notification dated 24.07.2024. The said notification has also been published in “The Punjab Gazette” on 26.07.2024. It was a policy decision of the Government. No appointment under Rule 17-A can be made w.e.f. 24.07.2024 (the date of approval of the Competent Authority) as the said rule no more exists now.
ii) The August Supreme Court of Pakistan in a Civil Petition No. 3390 of 2021 titled General Post Office, Islamabad V/s Muhammad Jalal has already issued judgment dated 18.10.2024 through the Apex Court, inter alia, observed that:-
The appointment of a widow/widower, wife/husband or child of a civil servant in different grades on contract or regular basis, without open advertisement, competition and merit is also violative of Article 18 of the Constitution which provides that subject to such qualification, if any, as may be prescribed by law, every citizen shall have the right to enter upon any lawful profession or occupation and to conduct any lawful trade or business.
Whereunder appointments without open advertisement, competition and merit, of the widow/widower, wife/husband or child of civil servants in different grades, who die during service or become permanently disabled/invalidated/incapacitated for further service and take retirement from service, are declared to be discriminatory and ultra vires Articles 3,4, 5(2), 18, 25(1) and 27 of the Constitution. The prescribed Federal and Provincial authorities are directed to withdraw the same.
iii) The Hon’ble Bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan in Civil Petition No. 288-P of 2015 [Government of KPK V/S Tahir Mushtaq and others] issued direction to KPK Government withdraw all the instructions/notifications with regard to provision of job under the quota, reserved for children of retiring civil servants on superannuation/invalidation.

SECTION OFFICER (EM-II)

Merit-Based Hiring: The Future of Civil Service Recruitment in Punjab:

With the removal of Rule 17-A, Punjab has taken a firm stance on promoting meritocracy in government jobs. This decision, though controversial, is in line with the Supreme Court’s directive to eliminate preferential hiring practices. The government believes that transparent, competitive recruitment processes will ultimately strengthen the efficiency and credibility of civil service appointments.

While this shift aims to create equal employment opportunities, it has raised concerns among affected families who relied on this policy for financial security. The move will likely spark further debate on whether alternate measures should be introduced to support the dependents of deceased or disabled civil servants.

As Punjab transitions into a new era of government employment policies, the focus remains on ensuring that all recruitment processes uphold fairness, merit, and equal opportunities for every citizen.

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