RAWALPINDI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a cabinet meeting, approved the Relaxation of Upper Age Limit Rules and passed two bills—the Sindh Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill—despite objections raised by the Governor.
The meeting, held at CM House on Saturday, was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, acting Chief Secretary Musadik Khan, and relevant secretaries.
After detailed discussions, the cabinet approved the Sindh Civil Servants (Relaxation of Upper Age Limit) Rules and directed the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department (SGA&CD) to notify the new rules. These rules grant significant upper-age relaxations for candidates applying for government jobs.
Under the new policy, various categories of candidates will be eligible for age relaxation. Government servants with at least two years of continuous service can receive up to five years of relaxation from their respective administrative departments. General candidates may receive up to two years of relaxation from administrative departments and up to five years from the SGA&CD. Widows or children of deceased civil servants, as well as persons with disabilities, divorced women, and widows, will also be eligible for up to five years of relaxation. Relevant documentation, such as death or divorce certificates, will be required at the time of application.
A special provision under Rule-5 allows upper-age relaxation for general candidates based on compelling reasons such as medical issues, the death of a parent or spouse, natural disasters, recruitment bans, and other significant circumstances. Special committees will be formed to evaluate such cases.
To address recruitment delays and the overwhelming number of applicants, the Sindh government has approved a blanket age relaxation of up to five years beyond the prescribed maximum limit for all departments—except the police and posts filled through the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) conducted by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). This relaxation will remain in effect from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026.
The cabinet also discussed the Sindh Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill 2025, which had been returned by the Sindh Governor with observations regarding the jurisdiction of the Sindh High Court (SHC). The Governor cited Article 175(2) of the Constitution, which states that courts can only exercise jurisdiction conferred by law. He also referenced Clause 9 of the Letters Patent of 1866, which grants the SHC original jurisdiction over civil cases exceeding a certain pecuniary value within Karachi.
Despite these concerns, the cabinet reaffirmed that the amendment does not violate Article 175 and aligns with the Sindh Civil Courts Ordinance, 1962, which has been amended multiple times without prior objections. Officials pointed out that the SHC is overwhelmed with a backlog of cases, whereas district courts, which have a larger pool of judges, could expedite civil case resolutions.
Judicial expertise concerns were also addressed, with officials clarifying that maritime cases will remain under SHC jurisdiction, intellectual property cases will be handled by specialized tribunals, and banking matters will continue to be managed by banking courts. The cabinet maintained that the amendment aims to ease the burden on the SHC and improve access to swift and cost-effective justice.
The cabinet was informed that the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill had been passed by the Sindh Assembly, modifying the eligibility criteria for Vice Chancellors in public sector universities. Initially approved by the Provincial Cabinet on December 4, 2024, and later passed by the assembly on January 31, 2025, the bill was returned by the Governor with objections—primarily concerning the removal of the PhD requirement for Vice Chancellor candidates.
The Governor referenced Higher Education Commission (HEC) guidelines, which recommend that Vice Chancellors should be distinguished academicians, preferably with a PhD. However, the cabinet clarified that under the new bill, candidates must hold at least a Master’s degree—preferably a PhD—and possess 15 years of experience in academia, civil society, research, or leadership roles. The Standing Committee had proposed amendments to further refine these experience requirements, which were approved by the assembly.
The bill also introduced provisions specifying that cadre officers selected as Vice Chancellors must either resign or seek retirement from civil service. Additionally, an age limit was established: general candidates must be under 62, retired High Court judges under 63, and retired Supreme Court judges under 67.
The cabinet approved the bill and referred it back to the assembly for further action.
