Govt abolishes job quota for deceased employees' families

The government has abolished a long-standing facility that allowed for the appointment of a family member of a government employee who dies during their service tenure. 

The facility provided under the Prime Minister Assistance Package was abolished after a Supreme Court judgement that declared the process "unconstitutional". 

A memorandum issued by the establishment division directed all ministries and divisions to comply with the latest order, which was taken in light of the Supreme Court ruling of October 18, 2024. 

The ruling directed that the clause of employing a person from the family of the deceased employee under the PM assistance package should be abolished.  

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Moreover, in its judgment, the SC had declared the practice of providing employment to the husband wife daughter or son of a deceased or disabled civil servant without an advertisement competitive process and merit as discriminatory.

The court declared it unconstitutional and various laws were also cited in the verdict. 

Following the court order, the Prime Office had asked for clarification about the Supreme Court decision and whether the Prime Minister’s Assistance Package had been abolished after the Supreme Court’s judgment. 

The Establishment Division replied that the package had not been abolished, but the court clarified that only employment to the family member of the deceased service employee was eliminated. 

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However, the recent notification suggested that in the event of death during service, all other benefits and facilities available to civil servants under the Prime Minister's Assistance Package will continue.

The Establishment Division clarified that this decision will not apply to the heirs of law enforcement agency personnel who were martyred in terrorist incidents, and this would also not be implemented to those who were hired before the Supreme Court ruling.