ISLAMABAD:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has set aside the Punjab government’s orders and ruled that women have the right to be appointed as permanent loggers.
“This Court cannot remain ignorant of the contemporary constitutional ethos of equality, inclusion and equitable participation of women in public life. No legal provision has been shown which deprives a woman of the right to hold the post of Lumberdar,” said a seven-page order written by LHC Justice Raheel Kamran, while allowing a petitioner’s plea against Lodhran Deputy Commissioner and Board of Revenue orders appointing another person as permanent logger.
Previously, the petitioner’s father had been a permanent woodcutter of the same village until his death.
The order states that where a female candidate otherwise meets the relevant criteria and demonstrates competence, experience and acceptability, her application must receive the same objective consideration as that of any male candidate.
“Rural governance and revenue administration benefit when competent women are allowed to participate in institutional roles historically monopolized by men.
“Such participation advances the constitutional values of equal opportunity and strengthens public confidence in an impartial administration. Any latent bias, direct or indirect, which diminishes a woman’s candidacy for reasons unrelated to merit cannot be tolerated,” the order states.
The court noted that the petitioner was no stranger to the village administration.
“The record shows that she had been serving as Sarbarah Lumberdar since 2002 and was assisting the deceased incumbent in discharging his official duties. Such long association with the office is a relevant factor, as appointment to the post of Lumberdar is not ceremonial; it requires familiarity with fiscal processes, communication with officials, local knowledge and accessibility to the public. Her hereditary claims, experience, land interest and its placement at the top of comparative merit after due process could not have been moved except on compelling, objective and legally sustainable grounds, which are lacking in this case,” the order states.
