Govt told to float new tenders for college canteens

SHC rebukes police for not registering case for man's disappearance, warns of sending SHO, SP to jail

The Sindh High Court directed the relevant authorities on Wednesday to float tenders for canteens at government colleges.

It was hearing a plea challenging the termination of contracts for canteens at public colleges.

The counsel for the petitioners decried that the contracts, spanning over years, were terminated without any prior notice.

At this, the court noted that persons awarded contracts for canteen had been paying meagre sums, around Rs2,000.

Thereafter, the colleges additional director called to the court's attention that government colleges had been closed due to the pandemic, and assured that new tenders for canteens at the institutions would be floated soon.

At this, the court told the petitioners' counsel that his clients may place bids after new tenders were floated and that there was no need for them to argue with college principals on the matter.

It then directed the relevant authorities to float new tenders for college canteens and adjourned the hearing.

Missing person case

Separately, a two-member bench headed by Justice Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto expressed annoyance when it emerged that the police had refused to register a case for the disappearance of a missing person, Hasan.

Rebuking the police authorities, the court warned that if an FIR of Hasan's disappearance was not registered, the relevant SHO and the SP would be sent to jail.

Hearing a plea seeking Hasan's recovery, the court then directed the Garden SHO to register the FIR.

Addressing the police, it remarked, "Someone's son is missing, and you don't even bother to register an FIR. Are you not ashamed?"

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Turning its attention to Hasan's mother, the court enquired whether the SHO present at the hearing was the same who had refused to register the FIR.

When she replied in negative, the court stated, "Had he been the same SHO, he would have been sent to jail directly from the hearing."

Adjourning the hearing, the court issued notices to the Sindh Home Department and Sindh IGP, directing them to use all available means for the recovery of missing persons.

Beggar mafia

Meanwhile, a two-member bench headed by Justice Amjad Ali Sahito expressed annoyance and dissatisfaction over the lack of action by the relevant authorities against mafia forcing street children into beggary and directed that a crackdown be launched on the mafia.

The was told at the hearing of a plea seeking action against beggar mafia that it was the Anti-Violent Crime Cell that looked into such matters.

Legal additional IG submitted a report to the court, stating that a crackdown against beggar mafia was under way.

According to the report, 25 cases against the mafia had been registered in South zone, 20 the city zone and eight in Keamari zone. The report further stated that so far, 32 beggars had been removed from different spots and nine had been handed over to non-governmental organisations.

South SSP Zubair Nazeer further informed the court that action was being taken against the mafia and the law enforcers had even nabbed a few suspects.

The court, however, noted that all the arrested suspects were booked under bailable sections.

"Then how is arresting them of any use? All of them will be eventually released," the court remarked.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar further stated, "Elements involved in forcing children into beggary must be meted out punishments so that other may learn a lesson."

The court admonished the SSP, stating that "You took action against the mafia yesterday because a hearing was scheduled for today."

Justice Mazhar stated, "When will action be taken against beggar mafia. Action is only taken for the show before there is a hearing."

Ordering a crackdown on the mafia, the court sought recommendations from the petitioner on the matter and adjourned the hearing until March 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2021.