rki.news

Altaf Hamid Rao

MIRPUR, July 3: The High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday annulled a large number of appointments made in the Health Department, declaring them unlawful and directing the State Accountability Bureau to investigate the matter and submit a report within 90 days.
The judgment was issued in the case titled Dr. Usama Zafar and others vs Government of AJK and others, in which the petitioners challenged the recruitment process for Medical Officers and other posts in the Health Department.
According to the detailed ruling announced on July 3, 2026, a single bench of the AJK High Court comprising Justice Khalid Rasheed Chaudhry held that the appointments were made in violation of merit and established recruitment rules. The court ordered cancellation of all such appointments and directed recovery of salaries paid to doctors appointed through the disputed process.
The petitioners were represented by senior lawyers Sheikh Adil Masood Advocate and Khawaja Muhammad Afaq Advocate, who argued that the recruitment process exceeded the number of advertised vacancies and violated applicable rules and procedures.
Court records show that the Health Department had advertised 71 vacancies for Medical Officers, but more than 250 appointments were allegedly made, triggering the legal challenge.
The High Court also ordered a broader inquiry into other recruitments carried out under the same advertisement, expressing concern over procedural irregularities and stressing the need for transparency, merit, and lawful conduct in public sector hiring.
The verdict has been widely welcomed by civil society and legal observers, who described it as a significant step toward strengthening merit, accountability, and rule of law in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Observers said the decision could have far-reaching implications for recruitment practices in government departments, while accountability authorities are now expected to examine responsibility for the alleged violations.