SPSC challenges SHC orders, seeks revival of CCE 2024 recruitment process

WEB DESK: The Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), challenging a series of interim orders issued by the Sindh High Court (SHC) over the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 and seeking the immediate revival of the stalled recruitment process.

In three separate petitions filed through advocate Hafiz Ehsan, the commission challenged the high court’s interim orders issued on May 14, May 21, June 9, June 17, June 22, and June 30, 2026.

The SPSC argued that the court exceeded its constitutional jurisdiction by entertaining petitions despite the availability of an effective alternate legal remedy under Regulation 161 of the SPSC Recruitment Management Regulations, 2023. It said several unsuccessful candidates had already approached the designated forum before filing constitutional petitions.

According to the commission, the CCE 2024 was conducted transparently and strictly in accordance with the law and recruitment regulations. It said 26,742 candidates applied for the examination, while 4,340 appeared in the written test. Of those, only 70 candidates qualified, while 4,270 failed to secure the required marks.

The petitions further said that many unsuccessful candidates later appeared in and cleared the CCE 2025 screening test, questioning the basis of the legal challenges.

The SPSC said that the high court’s interim orders have brought the entire recruitment process to a standstill, delaying interviews of successful candidates and preventing appointments.

It argued that directions for the re-evaluation of answer scripts and production of confidential examination records violate the commission’s recruitment regulations as well as established Supreme Court precedents. The commission also contended that the ex parte interim orders infringed upon its constitutional right to a fair hearing.

The petitions challenged the high court’s direction seeking the academic credentials of the SPSC chairman and commission members, describing it as unnecessary and beyond the court’s constitutional jurisdiction.

Warning of wider implications, the commission said allowing the interim orders to remain in force would undermine the autonomy of public service commissions and encourage unsuccessful candidates to seek judicial re-evaluation of examination results in future recruitment exercises.

The SPSC has asked the FCC to suspend all interim orders issued by the high court, dismiss all pending cases relating to CCE 2024, restore the recruitment process, and expunge the High Court’s adverse observations so that appointments can proceed in accordance with the Constitution and the applicable recruitment regulations.