LHC rules employees cannot demand posting at preferred location

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh of the Lahore High Court has issued a significant ruling regarding government employee transfers, stating that a public servant cannot demand a location of his choice, as transfers are an integral part of government service.

The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Building Inspector Imran Irshad challenging his transfer.

The written decision, spanning four pages, notes that the petitioner approached the court within just eight days of the transfer notification, claiming that the transfer without sufficient notice and justification reflected administrative malice and requested that the notification be declared null and void.

During the hearing, the Punjab government’s lawyer opposed the petitioner’s arguments.

After hearing all submissions, Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh issued the written decision emphasizing that government employees cannot claim the right to remain at their preferred station.

LHC approves 24 lawyers for providing free legal aid to deserving people

A transfer occurring within eight days is not inherently illegal unless administrative malice is proven, and courts cannot intervene in routine transfers.

The judgment further clarified that previous court rulings are not applicable under the new legal framework.

Employees of the local government department no longer have a legal right to remain at a single posting for a fixed period.

Following the implementation of the Punjab Local Government Act 2025, the earlier law has been repealed, and the new law provides no protection regarding tenure security at a posting.

Subsequently, the court dismissed Inspector Imran’s petition challenging his transfer.