Brief
Supreme Court bars retrospective application of new WAPDA service rules
A three‑judge bench said the 2018 WAPDA Hydel Generation Staff Service Rules must operate prospectively.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that new service rules cannot be applied retroactively to disturb settled seniority, promotion eligibility, or accrued employee rights, unless the law expressly provides for such effect. The three‑member bench—Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Musarrat Hilali and Irfan Saadat Khan—issued the decision while hearing 25 civil petitions concerning the seniority of Assistant Station Attendants at WAPDA. The court upheld the Federal Service Tribunal’s judgment and dismissed WAPDA’s petitions, emphasizing that seniority and promotion rights are accrued and cannot be altered by later rule changes. The court noted that the 2018 WAPDA Hydel Generation Staff Service Rules created separate seniority lists for Operations and Maintenance wings, affecting promotion prospects, but affirmed that these rules apply only to employees joining after their enforcement.
Key facts
- The Supreme Court held that new service rules operate prospectively unless expressly retrospective. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Musarrat Hilali and Irfan Saadat Khan delivered the ruling. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- The decision upheld the Federal Service Tribunal’s judgment and dismissed WAPDA’s petitions. (dailytimes.com.pk)
- The 2018 WAPDA Hydel Generation Staff Service Rules created separate seniority lists for Operations and Maintenance wings. (dailytimes.com.pk)
Sources
- [1] dailytimes.com.pk — originally reported as “New service rules cannot disturb settled seniority: SC”
