Lahore High Court orders appointment of woman as lumbardar in Lodhran, strikes down Board of Revenue decision

Lahore High Court, dismissing orders of the Board of Revenue officials, on Friday ordered authorities to appoint a woman as permanent lumberdar (headwoman) in tehsil Dunyapur of Lodhran district, ruling that reducing her merit score on the basis of community bias was unlawful, The News reported. 

Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh issued an eight-page written verdict setting aside decisions taken by the Lodhran deputy commissioner and the Board of Revenue that had prevented Kulsoom Akhtar’s appointment.

The position became vacant after the death of the previous lumberdar. Kulsoom Akhtar applied for the post and was initially placed at the top of the merit list by the assistant commissioner.

According to court records, her score was later reduced to zero by the deputy commissioner on the basis of sub-community considerations, removing her from the merit list.

The court observed that Kulsoom Akhtar’s father had previously served as village lumberdar and ruled that if he could hold the office, she could not be disqualified on the basis of community.

The verdict stated that denying women equal opportunities in public positions was contrary to constitutional principles and added that the office of lumberdar was a public responsibility rather than a hereditary entitlement.

Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh also ruled that administrative authority could not be exercised arbitrarily and said the Board of Revenue had failed to properly assess questions of merit and legal conflict.

The court highlighted Kulsoom Akhtar’s experience in rural affairs, revenue matters and public liaison work while annulling the appointment of Mohammad Azam as permanent lumberdar.

Revenue authorities have been directed to issue her official appointment notification within 30 days.