Supreme Court Nullifies 15-Year Age Relaxation for Government Jobs in Sindh

Islamabad: The Supreme Court has declared the Sindh government’s notification granting a 15-year age relaxation for public sector job applicants null and void. This decision comes after the court upheld a ruling from the Sindh High Court dated September 8, 2020, emphasizing that the Sindh government had extended the age limit without any reasonable justification or legal basis.
Under the previous regulations, relevant department secretaries could allow a relaxation of up to 2 years, while the Chief Secretary had the authority to grant a 5-year exemption. The Sindh government, however, unilaterally increased this to 15 years, leading to significant concerns regarding fairness in the hiring process.
The Supreme Court noted that the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has the responsibility to conduct examinations aimed at selecting the most qualified candidates. The court expressed that favoritism, bias, or undue external pressure in the selection process would lead to unrest and dissatisfaction within the public sector workforce.
The ruling pointed out that allowing candidates up to 45 years of age to apply, while others have only 15 years of service before retirement, creates an inequitable scenario compared to those who serve for 25 to 30 years. The Chief Secretary admitted that such a policy would impose a heavy financial burden on the government due to pension liabilities.
The court reiterated that the selection process must be based solely on merit to ensure justice and equity in public employment.