Polyclinic nurses challenge termination
The contractual period of the nurses will expire in 2012.
ISLAMABAD:
Over 40 nurses of Polyclinic Hospital on Tuesday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against “illegal” termination of their jobs. The nurses claimed they have been issued termination notices before the end of their contractual period.
Chief Justice IHC Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman has issued notices to secretary establishment division, secretary ministry of health, and the executive director of Polyclinic Hospital to respond by February 24.
The nurses said they were appointed under BS-16 pay-scale in Polyclinic Hospital for two years. They said their job contract will expire in the year 2012, and an early termination notification sent by Polyclinic Hospital Executive Director Dr Shaukat Kiani on January 26, is an “illegal act”.
The petitioners’ counsel Malik Qammar Afzal said that the nurses were recruited through the ministry of health and joined federal government hospital, and they are performing their duties without any complaints. He said that the nurses have passed professional nursing examinations, including three-year diplomas in general nursing, and are hence qualified.
The lawyer said that around 175 employees of Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, who were originally employed on a contractual basis, were made permanent employees of the hospital by the government of Punjab. He appealed to the court to declare the termination illegal and void.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2011.
Over 40 nurses of Polyclinic Hospital on Tuesday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against “illegal” termination of their jobs. The nurses claimed they have been issued termination notices before the end of their contractual period.
Chief Justice IHC Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman has issued notices to secretary establishment division, secretary ministry of health, and the executive director of Polyclinic Hospital to respond by February 24.
The nurses said they were appointed under BS-16 pay-scale in Polyclinic Hospital for two years. They said their job contract will expire in the year 2012, and an early termination notification sent by Polyclinic Hospital Executive Director Dr Shaukat Kiani on January 26, is an “illegal act”.
The petitioners’ counsel Malik Qammar Afzal said that the nurses were recruited through the ministry of health and joined federal government hospital, and they are performing their duties without any complaints. He said that the nurses have passed professional nursing examinations, including three-year diplomas in general nursing, and are hence qualified.
The lawyer said that around 175 employees of Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, who were originally employed on a contractual basis, were made permanent employees of the hospital by the government of Punjab. He appealed to the court to declare the termination illegal and void.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2011.