Challenge an FPSC Rejection: File a Representation Within 30 Days for Rs 500
Challenge an FPSC rejection with a Rs 500 representation within 30 days. See who to write to, the proof to attach, the review petition and the High Court step.
If FPSC rejects your application, you can file a representation within 30 days of being told. It costs Rs 500, paid by treasury challan, and goes to the Secretary FPSC. FPSC must decide within 15 days after hearing you. If you lose, a review petition follows within 15 days, then the High Court within 30 days.
Most rejections happen at the document check, after the candidate has already passed the test. Someone whose degree result came a week late, or whose domicile is in a father's name, can lose a post they earned on paper. Some of those rejections are wrong, and FPSC has a set route to fix them. We read paragraphs 9, 12, 15 and 19 of FPSC's General Instructions, updated on 12 August 2026, and the Commission's FAQs to lay it out.
Find out why FPSC rejected you first
FPSC tells you the reason in writing. Its instructions say it informs rejected candidates "describing the reasons of their ineligibility", by web notice, email and SMS. Read that reason against the advertisement before you write anything.
The reasons come from a fixed list in paragraph 9 of the General Instructions. Matching yours to the list tells you what proof you need.
| Reason FPSC gives | What usually answers it |
|---|---|
| Underage or overage, or no proof of age | Matric certificate, and proof of any age relaxation you claimed |
| Do not possess required domicile | Your own domicile certificate, not a parent's or husband's |
| Qualification result not declared by the closing date | Proof of the official result date from the board or university |
| Lack of experience, or experience not relevant | Experience certificate on FPSC's format, with exact dates and duties |
| No original DPC or NOC | Departmental Permission Certificate from your office |
| Variance between originals and photocopies | Clean, matching attested copies |
Be honest with yourself here. FPSC treats new experience claims "not given in the online application" as an "afterthought" and refuses them. If you never mentioned a job in your form, a representation will not add it now. Representations win when the proof already existed and was missed or misread.
File an FPSC representation within 30 days
Write to the Secretary FPSC by designation, sign it yourself, pay Rs 500 per representation by treasury challan, and send it within 30 days of the decision being communicated. FPSC's FAQs say filing early helps a quick decision on restoration.
- Pay the Rs 500 fee. Use the challan form FPSC attaches to its instructions as Annex-7. Pay at a government treasury or a National Bank of Pakistan branch, under the head "C02101-Organs of State Exam Fee (FPSC Receipt)".
- Fill the challan fully. Write your name, CNIC number, case number, post name and the treasury where you paid. FPSC says these "should be clearly entered".
- Write a short letter. Address it to "The Secretary, Federal Public Service Commission, Islamabad". Do not address it to the Chairman or a member by name; FPSC says such letters will not be entertained.
- State the facts. Give the advertisement number, case number, post, roll number and the rejection reason. Then say in one or two lines why it is wrong.
- Attach proof and the paid challan. Attested copies of the documents that answer the reason. Sign the letter yourself, and write your postal address in capital letters.
Send it by a tracked post or courier service and keep the receipt. Your 30 days count from when FPSC told you, so the date on its SMS or email matters. Keep a screenshot of it.
What happens after you file
FPSC must decide your representation within 15 days, after giving you a reasonable chance to be heard. If your proof settles it, you are restored and called for interview. If not, you are called for a personal hearing, and the decision is sent to you in writing.
The instructions say rejected candidates "shall be heard by the Commission's Committee". In practice, that means you may be asked to come to FPSC with your originals. Bring every document, not only the one in dispute.
A restoration does not mean selection. It puts you back in the process. You still need to clear the interview, whose pass mark ranges from 101 to 141 out of 200 depending on the grade. If you are restored, the next lists will appear under Results on fpsc.gov.pk, as with any government job application.
File a review petition, then go to the High Court
If FPSC rejects your representation, you have 15 days to file a review petition, again for Rs 500. FPSC must decide it within 30 days, and that decision is final within FPSC. After it, you have 30 days to appeal to the High Court.
| Stage | Your deadline | FPSC's deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Representation | 30 days from the decision | 15 days, after a hearing | Rs 500 |
| Review petition | 15 days from the representation decision | 30 days | Rs 500 |
| Appeal to High Court | 30 days from the review decision | Court decides | Court fees apply |
The instructions also say no FPSC order can be challenged in any court except as the FPSC law provides. So skipping the representation and going straight to court is risky. Follow the ladder in order. For the High Court step, speak to a lawyer, and check the lawyer's licence before you pay a fee.
Things a representation cannot change
FPSC does not re-check or re-evaluate test marks, under any circumstances. A representation about your score will not succeed. Nor will one that adds experience or degrees you left out of your online form.
FPSC's FAQs repeat the point: "Grievances in evaluation of answer copies are not entertained as re-evaluation is prohibited". OMR sheets are kept for one year only. So if your complaint is about marks, there is no FPSC route for it.
Your domicile cannot change either. Once claimed and accepted, FPSC treats it as final for later exams too. If your domicile was the problem, get your own from your district before the next advert. The steps to apply for a domicile certificate differ by province.
Common questions
How long do I have to challenge an FPSC rejection?
30 days from the day FPSC communicates the decision. Filing earlier helps, according to FPSC's FAQs.
What is the FPSC representation fee?
Rs 500 for each representation or review petition, paid by challan at a government treasury or National Bank of Pakistan branch.
Who do I address my FPSC representation to?
To the Secretary, FPSC, Islamabad, by designation and not by name. You must sign it yourself.
How long does FPSC take to decide a representation?
The instructions give FPSC 15 days after hearing you. A review petition gets 30 days.
Can I ask FPSC to re-check my test paper?
No. FPSC prohibits re-evaluation and re-checking of marks under any circumstances.
Can I go straight to court against FPSC?
The FPSC rules provide a representation, then a review petition, then a High Court appeal within 30 days. Skipping steps puts your case at risk.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 2 October 2026. We read paragraphs 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15 and 19 of the FPSC General Instructions updated on 12 August 2026, and the FPSC FAQs on rejection at scrutiny, representations and re-evaluation. We did not see the Annex-7 challan form itself, which is not in the instructions file we read, so get it from FPSC or the treasury. Court fees for a High Court appeal are not set by FPSC and we have not stated them.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
