LAHORE (Web Desk) – Although the minorities’ quota has been made mandatory in all government departments as per a Punjab government notification issued in October 2009, the Lahore High Court has failed to allocate five per cent seats for religious minorities in the 696 posts of civil judges cum judicial magistrates it has invited applications for.
Much to the dismay of minorities, the advertisement does not say anything about the quota for them, when it does mention a quota for people with disabilities.
Advocate Mushtaq Gill of Christian Progressive Movement has lamented that instead of ensuring that other government bodies were implementing the quota, the court itself was flouting the order. He is of the view that it would create a bad example for other departments and may deprive the minorities of their right.
It may be mentioned here that Article 260 (3) (b) of the Constitution clearly recognises the Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Ahmadis and Bahais as religious minority communities in the country.
On May 26, 2009, the federal government had issued a similar notification which said the orders would also apply to initial appointments.
