The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has decreed that seniority lists of government employees must be made publicly accessible on official websites, ending any practice of keeping them confidential. This directive was detailed in a judgment released on Friday by FCC Judge Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi.
The ruling requires all government departments, autonomous organizations, and state-owned corporations to update and publish their seniority lists every January without fail. The court emphasized that these lists should be compiled strictly based on merit and recruitment rankings, dismissing the arbitrary use of the “first come, first served” approach.
Highlighting the importance of transparency, the court stated that seniority lists cannot be withheld, as access to such information is a constitutional and fundamental right for every citizen and employee. Additionally, the judgment clarified that any unlawful clause in employment contracts cannot strip workers of their legitimate rights.
In a significant development, the court instructed that copies of the judgment be promptly dispatched to all provincial chief secretaries to ensure its enforcement. The FCC also expressed serious concern over the Port Qasim Authority’s failure to issue seniority lists even seven years after employees were granted permanent status.
