Legislative proceedings: 'Ad hoc nature of Sindh bureaucracy increasing inefficiency'

Judicial bench says permanent employees more likely to be committed to their job.

KARACHI:

The Sindh government is mainly staffed by people employed on an ad hoc or contractual basis which has a detrimental effect on its functioning, observed a division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The bench, made up of Justice Ather Saeed and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, heard a constitutional petition filed by a woman previously employed at the post of “water woman” in the education department under Basic Pay Scale or grade 1. The petitioner argued before the bench that she served on a temporary basis for three and a half years after which she was denied a permanent position and removed from service.

The bench strongly criticised the manner in which her case was handled by officials of the education department. It noted that the law was constantly circumvented on the whims of bureaucrats and all provincial government departments were full with contractual employees.

A permanent employee develops interest in their work and is committed to the job while contractual employees are more interested in completing their respective term, said the judges.

After hearing the arguments, the bench asked the Sindh Education Secretary, EDO Education Karachi and Administrator Karachi to solve the petitioner’s complaint within a month otherwise they would be charged with contempt of court. The case was adjourned to a later date.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2011.