SC orders new service structure for doctors

One month deadline also given by the apex court for procedure for doctors' promotions

KARACHI: The Supreme Court gave a one-month deadline to the government to formulate new service structure to regulate the promotions and postings of doctors.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing the case on Saturday at the Supreme Court's Karachi Registry.

The doctors had maintained that the service structure must be formulated considering their service tenure. The advocate-general informed the court that according to the court orders, the doctors hired on a contractual basis are being regularised, while 300 doctors still have to undergo the process and that for a new service structure for doctors, a committee is being formed. The doctors told the court that they waited for several years for promotions and several doctors had died during the time.



Advocate-General Zamir Ghumro presented the upgrade approval report of grade 17 to grade 19 doctors during the selection board meeting. According to the report, approval for the promotion of 50 doctors from grades 17 to 18 has been granted. Approval for the promotion of 33 doctors has been granted from grade 18 to 19 doctors while 133 doctors from grade 19 to 20 have been promoted. Around 183 female medical officers of grade 17 and grade 18 have also been promoted.

Sanitation

Justice Nisar appreciated the work done by the provincial and local authorities for improving the conditions of cleanliness and sewerage in the city.

While heading a three-judge bench during the hearing of case related to non-provision of clean drinking water and sanitation in the province at the Supreme Court's Karachi Registry, the top judge told the officers that he had found that Karachi was a different city during his recent tour.

He observed that the city's beaches had also been cleaned, while garbage was also being lifted and storm water drains were also being cleaned.

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, Advocate-General Ghumro and other local and provincial government authorities were present.

Akhtar informed the court that illegal buildings and markets had been built on the amenity land of the drains. He expressed his helplessness to bulldoze the buildings.



He explained that in the first phase, four major drains in the city would be cleaned and cleared. He said work was under way and the CJP could personally visit the areas and inspect them if he wanted to do so.

The mayor said that an illegal building had been constructed on the land belonging to the Nehar-e-Khayam drain and the Sindh High Court had passed a restraining order against taking any action against the construction.

The CJP told the doctors, who had displayed some posters praising the top judge outside the SC's Karachi Registry, to remove them immediately. "No one will even call my name after my retirement," he remarked, ordering that such posters should not be seen again.

Journalist Mazhar Abbas pointed out that there were heaps of garbage beneath the flyover bridge at Baloch Colony.

The top judge said he would review the report submitted by the judicial commission investigating issues related to non-provision of clean drinking water and sewerage in the province. However, he observed that some positive change was seen in the cleanliness issues.

The bench that also comprised justices Faisal Arab and Sajjad Ali Shah fixed the matter after two weeks.