Civil Servants (Validation of Rules) Ordinance, 2001

The Civil Servants (Validation of Rules) Ordinance, 2001 (Ordinance II of 2001) retroactively confirms the legal validity of certain civil service rules made under the Civil Servants Act, 1973. It came into force at once on 9 January 2001, during a period when the National Assembly and Senate were suspended under the Proclamation of Emergency of 14 October 1999.

Section 2(1) specifically affirms three sets of rules: the Civil Servants Occupational Group and Services (Probation, Training and Seniority) Rules, 1990; the Civil Servants (Seniority) Rules, 1993; and the Civil Servants (Confirmation) Rules, 1993 — along with all notifications amending them issued before the Ordinance took effect. These are deemed to have always been validly made.

Section 2(2) goes further, validating everything done under those rules by any authority before the Ordinance's commencement — orders, proceedings, acts, instructions, powers exercised, and appointments made — treating them as having always had legal effect.

This is a technical, retrospective validation measure, likely enacted because a legal challenge or gap had put the rules' vires in doubt. It does not change the substance of civil service probation, seniority, or confirmation rules going forward — it only shields past actions taken under those rules from being struck down.