Lahore High Court declares neurosurgery hiring criteria contrary to PMDC rules illegal
The Lahore High Court has ruled that recruitment criteria differing from the experience set by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council are illegal. Justice Shirin Imran issued the decision on petitions against an advertisement for assistant professors of neurosurgery.
- Lahore High Court called the hiring criteria, which departed from PMDC experience requirements, illegal
- The ruling came on petitions against an advertisement for assistant professors of neurosurgery
- Candidates need two years of clinical experience and two research papers, the court said
- The advertisement was declared void to the extent of its conflicting eligibility conditions
The Lahore High Court has declared illegal a recruitment standard that differs from the experience required by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). The court issued its decision on petitions against a disputed advertisement for hiring assistant professors of neurosurgery.
Justice Shirin Imran announced the ruling on a petition filed by 11 petitioners, including Dr Syed Shahrukh Hasan Rizvi.
According to the petitioners' lawyer, the health department placed an advertisement on 22 October 2025 for initial recruitment to 8 posts. The PMDC had issued new regulations on 27 February 2025.
The court said the PMDC regulations have legal standing under the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Act 2022. It also said the Punjab government's service rules cannot remove the minimum professional standards set under federal law.
According to the court, an assistant professor of neurosurgery must have two years of clinical experience in the relevant field and two research papers. The court said the advertisement had made candidates eligible even if they lacked the required experience.
The court held that the standard set in the advertisement for the 8 neurosurgeon posts does not match the PMDC's 2025 regulations. It ordered the disputed advertisement declared void, and described the Punjab Public Service Commission advertisement as illegal to the extent of its conflicting eligibility conditions.
The court directed that recruitment of assistant professors of neurosurgery be completed in line with the PMDC regulations. It said the fixed quota for initial recruitment and for promotions in the post will remain in place.
Why it matters
The ruling affects how doctors are hired for senior neurosurgery posts in Punjab, where the court said federal PMDC standards must be met. It bears on the qualifications of specialists in public health services.
