Lahore High Court; Recruitment criteria contrary to PMDC prescribed experience declared illegal

Decision issued on petitions against controversial advertisement for Assistant Professor Neurosurgery recruitments

Lahore: Lahore High Court has declared recruitment criteria contrary to PMDC prescribed experience as illegal.

Court issued decision on petitions against controversial advertisement for Assistant Professor Neurosurgery recruitments. Justice Shireen Imran issued decision on petition of 11 petitioners including Dr. Syed Shah Rukh Hassan Rizvi.

According to court decision, recruitment process of Assistant Professor Neurosurgery should be completed according to PMDC regulations, service rules of Punjab government cannot abolish minimum professional standard fixed under federal law, two-year clinical experience in relevant field and two research papers are mandatory for Assistant Professor Neurosurgery.

It was said in decision that according to counsel of petitioners, Health Department advertised on October 22, 2025 for initial recruitment on 8 posts, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council issued new regulations on February 27, 2025.

According to High Court decision, PMDC regulations have legal status under Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Act 2022, in advertisement such candidates have also been declared eligible for recruitment who do not have required experience, controversial advertisement should be declared illegal and annulled.

It is written in court decision that qualification and experience has been determined for appointment to teaching posts including Assistant Professor Neurosurgery, standard fixed in 8 neurosurgeons recruitment advertisement does not conform with PMDC 2025 regulations, eligibility should be fixed according to PMDC regulations 2025 for recruitments of Assistant Professor Neurosurgery.

It is written in decision that advertisement of Punjab Public Service Commission is declared illegal to extent of contradictory eligibility conditions, two-year clinical experience in relevant field and two research papers are mandatory for Assistant Professor Neurosurgery, service rules of Punjab government cannot abolish minimum professional standard fixed under federal law, therefore fixed quota of initial recruitments and promotions of Assistant Professor Neurosurgery will remain intact.