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ISLAMABAD, Jan 12 (APP):The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that job applications filed by the children of deceased employees of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) must be decided strictly under the policy that was in force when the applications were submitted. The Court held that later judicial rulings or new employment policies cannot be applied retrospectively to pending cases.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and comprising Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, issued the judgment in Civil Petition No. 1242-K/2024.
Petitioners Ayaz Ali and Asadullah had approached the Supreme Court after the Sindh High Court dismissed their petitions.
According to the judgment, the petitioners’ fathers—both serving as officers in NBP—passed away during service. Ayaz Ali’s father died on November 11, 2019, and he applied for appointment under the deceased employees’ quota on November 27, 2019.
Asadullah’s father died on December 28, 2021, and he submitted his application on February 14, 2022.
Despite the passage of years, the bank neither processed their applications nor issued any formal communication.
The Sindh High Court had rejected their petitions on the basis of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in General Post Office vs. Muhammad Jalal (PLD 2024 SC 1276). However, the Supreme Court set aside the High Court ruling, clarifying that the cited judgment operates prospectively and does not apply to pending cases.
The Court expressed concern over the prolonged delay, terming it administrative negligence and contrary to principles of fairness. It ruled that since the applications were filed when NBP’s 2011 policy was in effect, they must be evaluated under that policy.
The Supreme Court converted the civil petition into an appeal, allowed it, and remanded the matter to the President of NBP with instructions to decide both applications within three months and inform the applicants in writing.