Justice calls: PHC issues order to reinstate 22 teachers

PESHAWAR:

A division bench of the Peshawar High Court has issued the restoration order of 22 teachers of Islamia Collegiate School on Tuesday.

The bench headed by PHC Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel was hearing a writ petition filed by Fazal Wahab and 21 other teachers through their lawyers Essa Khan and Akhtar Ilyas.

The counsels argued the teachers were performing duties since 2006 as trained teachers in BPS-16. However, they were terminated from their services through a notification issued by the registrar of the Islamia College University Peshawar (ICUP) in 2015.

Essa Khan argued teachers who were hired on contractual basis were regularised after three years, while his clients were not regularised even after three years. On the contrary, they were removed from their jobs.

ICUP’s lawyer argued the applicants were serving as temporary employees who were removed after expiry of the contracts. He said they could apply for the post which will be advertised soon in the media. However, the bench after hearing arguments, restored their services.

Cancellation of admissions

While hearing another petition, the same bench stayed the cancellation of admissions of 23 students on self-finance at Khyber Medical College (KMC). The petition was filed by Amina Tahir and 22 other students whose admissions were cancelled because Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) ordered reduction in seats allocated for students taking admission on self-finance.

Ghulam Mohiuddin, the petitioners’ lawyer, argued 23 out of 287 seats were allocated for self-finance students that were sanctioned by the DG health. He said number of the sanctioned seats was reduced after admitting more students on open merit on the directives of the PMDC. The bench after hearing arguments sought replies from health department secretary and management of the KMC, and adjourned the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2015.