SC urges fast-track worker redressal forums

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court in the Punjab Provisional Cooperative Bank Limited employees case has said that such workers who are not provided with fast track forums for redressal file civil claims and wait for decision for several years.

The apex court added that the availability of fast track forums for such employees under the legislation or the establishment of a tribunal or a special court under the special law would not only benefit the workers whose cases are pending for a long time but also ensure check and balance.

A 13-page verdict of the case was penned by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.

The top court ordered to send a copy of the decision to the attorney general, law secretary, advocate general Islamabad, all the four provincial advocate generals and the four provincial law secretaries, stating that the legislature could examine the issue identified in the court decision.

While detailing the redressal forums available to civil servants or other employees, the court decision stated that the Employment Rights Act 1996 states that there must be a reasonable cause for dismissing an employee. It said that dismissal of a worker would be unfair when they are treated unfairly.

The order noted that a civil servant can challenge the decision against him in the service tribunal. It said that if the person is not a civil servant he can approach the high court under the service rules.

The court stated that an employee engaged in an industrial or commercial sector can approach labour courts or NIRC. Those employees who do not have any forum for redressal can file their claim in a civil court under the civil code.