SC nullifies FST decision Sep 19, 2025 decision regarding seniority of railway officers

ISLAMABAD
Supreme Court (SC) has declared null and void Federal Service Tribunal (FST) September 19, 2025 order related to seniority of Railway officers.
Justice Ayesha Malik issued written order .
SC maintained Service rules 1990 will apply only in elementary probationary phase . Decades old traditions , seniority based on CSS examination merit cannot be abolished.
The seniority of officers of civil servants who are promoted after completing probation period will not be affected.
The court said change in old seniority lists by Railway department and retrospective implementation is unnecessary.
The department was settling the seniority of officers on the basis of merit of CSS examination since decades.
Railway had issued revised seniority list on August 27, 2014 which was declared null and void by service tribunal and SC.
Railway department issued provisional seniority lists based on merit of CSS examination on June 29, 2022 and March 20, 2023.
Officers filed appeals in FST against these provisional lists.
The tribunal in its September 19. 2025 decision nullified the Railways lists and ordered to make new lists under 1990 rules.