LAHORE: Twelve judicial officers, who were subjected to forced retirement, on Thursday invoked constitutional jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court (LHC), challenging the decision of its Administration Committee.

The petitioners include additional district and sessions judges, senior civil judges and civil judges of Punjab district judiciary.TheLHCcommittee had notified their forced retirement on June 2.

The officers also assailed Section 12 of Punjab Civil Servants Act 1974 for being contrary to the Constitution.

They pleaded that they were condemned unheard as no opportunity of hearing was afforded to them by the authorities concerned. They prayed to the court to strike down Section 12 of the civil servants act for being unconstitutional and order their reinstatement.