Out of turn: LHC seeks report on hiring, promotions

Justice Anwarul Haq seeks information in light of an SC verdict.

LAHORE: Justice Anwarul Haq of the Lahore High Court on Friday directed the LHC registrar to file a report on steps taken to implement a Supreme Court judgment against employees who were promoted out-of-turn or hired against the rules.

Justice Haq passed this order on a petition of an LHC employee who challenged all promotions and the hiring of employees by different former chief justices who failed to adopt the due process.

Justice Haq was sent to Bahawalpur bench of the LHC from April 10 to May 27. After coming back to Lahore, he took on the petition filed by Muhammad Akmal.

Akmal claimed in his petition that all those people on seats, statuses or posts in leverage of Rule 26 of the LHC rules may impede the promotions of deserving employees. The petitioner submitted that the relevant officers dealing with promotion cases may be directed to abide by settled laws and judgments of the apex court. It had declared the appointments and promotions illegal under Rule 26.

Akmal said he had been waiting for his promotion since 2009 as additional registrar, but many others, who were appointed under Rule 26, had been perks and privileges.

In light of the SC judgment, he alleged all appointments and promotions made under Rule 26 of the LHC Establishment Rules were out-of-turn.

He asked that all out-of-turn promotions or appointments be declared null and void.

The SC had declared appointments at Islamabad High Court, under Rule 26, as illegal and ordered fresh ones. After that judgment, the former chief justice of the IHC Iqbal Hameedur Rehman resigned and the incumbent chief justice is facing proceedings before the Supreme Judicial Council.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2017.