Deputationists in SC cause resentment among permanent staff

Permanent employees say they feel demotivated due to lack of promotion

ISLAMABAD: Deputationists occupy key administrative positions in the Supreme Court, causing resentment among permanent employees which say they are also being ignored during promotions.

Presently, SC Register Arbab Muhammad Arif, Additional Registrar Judicial Abdul Razzaq and Additional Registrar Administration Khawaja Daud Ahmad are all working on deputation in the apex court.

Sources told The Express Tribune that recently Additional Registrar Judicial Muhammad Ali was transferred to Quetta and Abdul Razzaq was given the charge in his place. Razzaq’s services were acquired from the courts in Punjab and he is not a permanent employee of the apex court.

SC’s Human Rights Cell Director General (DG) Khalid Teepu Rana is also working on deputation and his services were acquired from Sindh judiciary.  Another senior official, who is also on deputation, is working in the HR cell.

Deputy Registrar (Administration) Abdul Shabbir Khan Khattak is also working on deputation. Recently, the services of another judicial officer have been availed on deputation.

Muhammad Ali, a grade-21 office, is performing duty at Quetta Registry. However, the purpose of his transfer is not clear as the heads of three SC registries – Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore – are deputy or assistant registrars.

During informal discussion with several permanent employees of the apex court, it transpired that the permanent staff was worried about its promotion and demoralised.

“Fawwad Ahmad, a grade-18 officer, has excellent reputation in the apex court but he has not been promoted for the last many years,” said a senior official.



There are a few other officials, who are also raising voice for promotion. One official revealed that he had been working on the same grade for the last 10 years.

There is also a cold war between permanent employees and deputationists. The SC has been acquiring services of a civil servant on deputation for the post of registrar after retirement of Dr Faqir Hussain, who also got one-time job extension. Later, Tahir Shahbaz was appointed as SC registrar.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) member Shoaib Shaheen said if permanent employees were not eligible to perform at key posts, specialists should be hired from different sectors for their capacity building.

According to another senior lawyer, the post of SC registrar is very sensitive. Therefore, he said, it would better if the services of any high court or lower court judge could be acquired for the post. He believes if the SC feels that any deputationist is competent, he should be permanently absorbed in the apex court.

The lawyer said hiring of civil servants after every three years would not send a good message to the public as thousands of employees had been repatriated to their parents departments due to the SC’s interference.



PBC Vice Chairman Kamran Murtaza said the superior bars had already discouraged the trend of hiring civil servants in the apex court on deputation.

The legal experts urge Chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar to establish a research cell in the apex court and introduce a uniform policy regarding the fixation of cases. They also urged the CJP to carry out an audit of expenditure on renovation of the SC building over the last three years.