By Asim Hussain
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled in an important service matter that no adverse decision may be taken against a government officer without first providing them a full and fair opportunity to present their stance.
The Court has ordered a fresh hearing in the promotion case of former CSS officer Ms. Sabiha Hameed, directing that her matter be reconsidered.
According to the detailed written judgment issued by the Court, the decision was announced on December 9, 2025, by a two-member bench comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan. The Court converted the petition filed against the FST order of October 23, 2023, into a regular appeal and subsequently allowed it. The judgment states that Ms. Sabiha Hameed, a former CSS officer who served as Additional Director at the National School of Public Policy in Lahore, was superseded for promotion to Grade 20. She retired on April 15, 2015. In her appeal against the denial of promotion, the FST had categorically observed on November 16, 2020, that she was prima facie eligible for promotion and had directed the department to reconsider her case in accordance with rules.
The Supreme Court noted that the FST’s order had attained finality. Despite this, the Central Selection Board (CSB) in 2023 once again relied on the already-declared illegal 2014 assessment while reconsidering her promotion case.
The Court expressed surprise that the CSB denied her promotion merely on the ground that she secured 63.30 percent marks instead of the required 70 percent—without ever informing her of these marks or providing an opportunity for explanation or personal hearing.
The Court held that assigning adverse marks or denying promotion cannot be lawful unless the officer is heard. Justice Irfan Saadat Khan observed in the judgment that the basic requirements of justice were not fulfilled since the applicant was never granted a personal hearing.
Referring the matter back to the Establishment Division, the Supreme Court directed that within two months, a meeting of the Central Selection Board be convened, Ms. Sabiha Hameed be personally heard, and a fresh decision be taken strictly in accordance with law and service regulations.
