Summary: The petitioner applied for the post of Constable and was placed at Serial No.82 of final merit list against total of 161 posts, however, he was non-suited on the ground that an FIR bearing No. 74/2024 dated 10.02.2024, was registered against him at Police Station City Darya Khan, District Bhakkar, and the said fact was concealed in his Application Form. The respondents submits that they have power under the Police Rules, 1934 ("the Rules") read with Standing Order No.6 of 2015 ("the Standing Order") to assess the character in the line with the suitability of the candidate and if some concealment is made, such candidate is not eligible for appointment in a disciplinary force. Held: The authority of the Police Department to scrutinize the antecedents of candidates, in terms of the Rules and/or the Standing Order, is neither questioned nor undermined and if concealment of any fact particularly with reference to registration of criminal case is found, such candidate can be disqualified as held in case reported Mirza Shahzeb v. City Police Officer, Police Line, Rawalpindi and 4 others [2023 PLC (CS) 749]. However, the case of the petitioner is clearly distinguishable from the dictum laid down by the learned Full Bench of this Court in the case of Mirza Shahzeb supra. The concern lies in the manner in which powers are exercised by the Police Department to draw the conclusion that concealment has been made by a candidate while interpreting and applying the Rules. In the present case, the time gap between the registration of the FIR at 10:10 PM on 10.02.2024 in one District and the submission of the application on the very next morning, on 11.02.2024, in another District, makes it humanly impossible for the petitioner to have acquired such knowledge, let alone formed an intent to suppress it. Petition was accordingly allowed.

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: The petitioner applied for the post of Constable and was placed at Serial No.82 of final merit list against total of 161 posts, however, he was non-suited on the ground that an FIR bearing No. 74/2024 dated 10.02.2024, was registered against him at Police Station City Darya Khan, District Bhakkar, and the said fact was concealed in his Application Form. The respondents submits that they have power under the Police Rules, 1934 ("the Rules") read with Standing Order No.6 of 2015 ("the Standing Order") to assess the character in the line with the suitability of the candidate and if some concealment is made, such candidate is not eligible for appointment in a disciplinary force. Held: The authority of the Police Department to scrutinize the antecedents of candidates, in terms of the Rules and/or the Standing Order, is neither questioned nor undermined and if concealment of any fact particularly with reference to registration of criminal case is found, such candidate can be disqualified as held in case reported Mirza Shahzeb v. City Police Officer, Police Line, Rawalpindi and 4 others [2023 PLC (CS) 749]. However, the case of the petitioner is clearly distinguishable from the dictum laid down by the learned Full Bench of this Court in the case of Mirza Shahzeb supra. The concern lies in the manner in which powers are exercised by the Police Department to draw the conclusion that concealment has been made by a candidate while interpreting and applying the Rules. In the present case, the time gap between the registration of the FIR at 10:10 PM on 10.02.2024 in one District and the submission of the application on the very next morning, on 11.02.2024, in another District, makes it humanly impossible for the petitioner to have acquired such knowledge, let alone formed an intent to suppress it. Petition was accordingly allowed. 542Service 73541/22 Province of Punjab etc Vs Nazira Saif Mr. Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad 21- 04- 2025 2025 LHC 2569 2025 PLC (CS) 807 (Lahore High Court)

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: Summary pending

Summary: Summary pending