Legal status of NTS case: It’s a contract system: PHC

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: The two-member bench of Peshawar High Court comprising of Justice Rooh-ul-Amin and Justice Ijaz Anwar inquired about legal status of National Testing Service (NTS) and observed that it’s like contract system, on Tuesday.
The observation regarding was given during hearing of writ petition filed by Mehnaz and others in which Alamzeb Khan Advocate appeared before court on behalf of petitioner. PHC has directed Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to assist court on the matter and further observed that under which law NTS is conducting exams and recruitment for government institutions?
The counsel for petitioner Alamzeb Khan Advocate informed that NTS had conducted test for Primary School Teacher (PST) in February 2021 and did not declare result till today which had bad impacts on mental health of educated youth.
On informing by Additional Advocate General Sardar Ali Raza that NTS is conducting exams for recruitment in different government departments, Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked that under which law they are conducting exams and added that universities had their own procedure but other departments are practicing the same. Justice Rooh-ul-Amin remarked that if department cannot conduct transparent tests for recruitment then who can obtain salaries and added that to inform court regarding legal status of NTS and their operations. The two-member bench of PHC directed Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to assist court on the matter and legal status of NTS while adjourned further hearing till 5 October.
PHC directs KPPSC to submit comments: The two-member bench of Peshawar High Court comprising of Justice Abdul Shakoor and Justice Arshad Ali directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission to submit comments in case regarding recruitment of Tabib at health department, on Tuesday.
The counsel for petitioner Zia-ur-Rehman Tajik Advocate informed PHC that the petitioner was only candidate from Zone 1 who was shortlisted but did not recommend by the commission for recruitment.
The counsel informed that health had advertised the vacancy on 24 March 2021 at Basic Pay Scale (BPS-16) as Tabib at health department. The counsel further informed that the vacancy is still vacant and local residents are depriving from availing facility of Hakim/Tabib.