ON June 29, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued an order to withdraw the entire recruitment process for all positions up to BPS-15, directing the Sindh government to re-advertise the post and to conduct the process in accordance with the law. The decision has disappointed thousands of candidates as the court ruling has not provided a clear mechanism for ensuring transparency and meritocracy.

In November 2021, the government of Sindh had initiated a large-scale recruitment drive. All applicants were required to submit an online application along with a challan of Rs1,500 per category. Over 300,000 candidates applied in each category. This suggests that the government collected more than Rs1.35 billion through the challan fee.

Candidates who applyied in multiple categories had to spend a lot of money, including additional costs. This expense was a huge financial burden on individuals and families.

The court decision should have included unambiguous guidelines to ensure that the re-advertised positions do not now require reapplication from those who had applied earlier.

Moreover, there should be a robust mechanism in place to guarantee hirings based sheerly on merit, and to prevent any form of corruption or nepotism.

The recruitment process must also be expedited to address all the concerns of candidates who are at the risk of exceeding the stipulated age limit for government jobs. An early action is needed in this regard.

Ali Gul Leghari
Johi

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2024