ISLAMABAD: The appointments made by selection board of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) have been challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as the petitioner termed the appointments gross violation of fundamental rules and “based on favouritism”. According to a petition number IHC HCR/CC # 85238 filed by Rana Humayun Ihsan in the court of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of IHC against the selection board of the institute held on Tuesday to scrutinise the posts of additional registrar, deputy registrars and some others administrative slots, the procedure adopted by the board during selection was neither legal and nor containing health practices. “There was no healthy competition for the selection process as only two candidates appeared before the selection committee for the post of additional registrar-one was from a private university while the other one is internal employee of the institute and holds junior grade than some other serving officials as deputy registrars in BPS-19 deserved for the promotion to additionalrRegistrar,” the petitioner claimed. Rana Humayun Ihsan is serving as deputy registrar in the PIDE. He alleged that PIDE Vice Chancellor Dr Asad Zaman is filling direct appointments from outside against the post of additional registrar which is a purely promotional post. He also pointed out the ruling of the federal ombudsman in which the ombudsman directed PIDE administration in 2015 to consider his promotion case but, according to Rana, PIDE VC Dr Asad Zaman did nothing in compliance with the court’s directives. Rana explained his profile in the plea claiming that he was eligible by all means for promotion to this post and has excellent “work and conduct report, is being deprived of his due promotion since 2014. My PhD degree is about to complete while having masters in Human Resource Management, English Literature and Education. In addition, I also hold an LLB degree,” he said in the filed application. The sources revealed that besides the post of additional registrar, some other administrative slots such as deputy registrar are also being taken from outside of the institute allegedly on favouritism. “To appoint officials on such key posts from outside was not only the violation of prescribed rules but also discrimination with the person who is serving against the post of deputy registrar or assistant registrar for several years with the institute,” said an aggrieved assistant registrar wishing not to be named. Another official said on the condition of anonymity that around 15 employees between the grades of 17 to 19 against different positions have been appointed directly by the vice chancellor while to make such selection is purely prerogative of the selection board and syndicate. As per rules, after the advertisement, the Selection Board shortlists the candidates and then forwards the names to syndicate which is the supreme decision body, for final approval. Furthermore, some of the staff hired as consultants were former PIDE staffers. This is in violation of federal government services rules. According to the rules, no retired employee of any government organisation can be hired as a consultant for the purpose of reemployment only. When contacted, Dr Asad Zaman denied sharing the selection board’s findings. He, however, clarified that all appointments were made in accordance with law. “Not a single post been filled against the rules and the board wetted them accordingly.” Registrar Dr Safeeruddin admitted that grievances of the officials were legitimate who approached the court. “Yes their grievances are correct,” he said adding that instead of approaching the courts it would be better if they come to the PIDE administration to discuss their problems. When asked about the rules violation during appointments, the registrar claimed, “No violation was committed regarding new appointments as both provisions are existed in the law that are direct appointment as well as through promotion of internal employees.” Published in Daily Times, July 16th 2018.