HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, has stayed the suspension order against Sindh Public Service Commission’s additional controller of examinations Imtiaz Ahmed Jagirani.
While issuing notices to the respondent SPSC officials, the bench comprising Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi suspended operation of the Sept 8 suspension order till the next hearing.
It adjourned the matter for five weeks and issued notices to the respondents — SPSC chairman and secretary, as well as the inquiry officer and an SPSC member Vikram Singh Sodha. Petitioner Imtiaz Jagirani was represented by Advocate Ishrat Lohar.
The petitioner submitted in court that after serving in BPS-17, he was promoted to the post of additional controller in BPS-18 in June 2019, and that after two decades of service, he was eligible for promotion to BPS-19, subject to applicable service rules and prescribed criteria.
He alleged that the respondents neglected him for promotion, adding that he had submitted a representation to the competent authority / SPSC chairman on July 20, 2026 to seek promotion. He said his representation was forwarded to the chief minister / chief secretary but no decision had been communicated to him so far regarding his request.
He said he submitted another such representation on Sept 7 but it remained pending.
The petitioner alleged that instead of considering his request, certain minor matters were picked up to take disciplinary action against him. He said he received the first explanation notice on June 18 over a missing official seal to which he submitted a reply categorically denying any responsibility for the same.
The petitioner said that another explanation was sought from him on Sept 2 over his alleged “slipshod attitude, unprofessional conduct and conduct relating to the shifting / management of office articles”.
He said he replied to it the very next day but a show-cause notice was issued to him on Sept 7 to which he submitted his defence on Sept 14, categorically denying the charges.
The petitioner said a charge sheet was also issued to him on Sept 7 in respect of the allegations arising from the Sept 2 explanation regarding office articles.
He said that he had already been under suspension and not allowed to discharge his official duties though certain confidential and secret official records remained in his custody and control. He said he was willing to hand over the charge of the secret section / examination branch to an officer duly nominated for the purpose, but despite repeated requests, no formal order was issued to nominate an officer to take the charge.
He said he could not hand over sensitive records to any unauthorised person.
He said that on Sept 17, he received a notice from the inquiry officer, Vikram Singh Sodha, requiring him to appear for a personal hearing, and that the sequence of events had caused prejudice to him.
He prayed the court to declare the initiation / continuation of the impugned departmental proceedings as without lawful authority, and requested that the impugned charge sheet be set aside and the respondents restrained from taking any coercive action against him.
Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2026
