Promotion notifications of 47 rescue officers revoked in Punjab

At least eight discrepancies pointed out in letters

LAHORE:

Punjab Home Department, the administrative department of Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), has declared the orders of up-gradation of 47 rescue officers on basis of time scale promotion to grade 18 and 19 from grade 17 and 18 illegal and against the spirit of rules of business.

The letter addressing the additional secretary (regulations) finance department said the Rescue 1122 director general was supposed to furnish lists of officers who had completed 10 years of regular service for scrutiny to proceed further on July 23, 2020.

However, on the same day, he issued orders regarding the promotion and posted as district emergency officers and regional emergency officers in total disregard to the administrative department.

The administrative department noted at least eight discrepancies in the attempt.

The notification by the finance department for promotion mentioned that only the administrative secretary or head of attached department could issue orders regarding promotion of employees whereas Rescue 1122 was not an attached department and the Rescue 1122 DG was not the head of attached department as defined in the Punjab Government Rules of Business 2011.

Under the Punjab Emergency Services Act, Rescue 1122 DG is the chief executive officer (CEO) and responsible for administrative affairs. The DG will exercise such powers as may be specified by the Punjab Emergency Council. The number and nature of the posts, necessary criteria and manner of appointment thereto shall be maintained by the council and the employees appointed to these posts shall receive such remuneration, allowances and privileges and shall be subject to such terms and conditions as laid down by the council.

The home department maintained that as per the Recruitment Committee constituted with the approval of the chief minister and the Punjab Emergency Council for recruitments in Rescue 1122, the chairman for the recruitment committees for posts of BS-16 and above is home secretary whereas chairman for recruitment committees for the posts of BS-1-BS-15 is Rescue 1122 DG.

Rescue 1122 DG is not the appointing authority, however, the home secretary is.

Another discrepancy notified by the home department is that the Punjab Emergency Council in its third meeting had notified that the administrative secretary was authorised to issue appointment orders for officers in BS-16 and above and DG Rescue 1122 was the appointing authority for officials in BS-1 to BS-15.

It has been observed that officers whose cadre has been changed by DG Rescue 1122 himself or officers against whom serious disciplinary proceedings are underway in the administrative department or officers who availed extraordinary leave without pay have also been upgraded by him without formal consultation with the administrative and finance department as provided in Punjab Government Rules of Business 2011, the administrative pointed out.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2020.