Bonus for finance officials challenged

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Khalid Ishaq has sought arguments on the maintainability of a plea challenging the legality and discriminatory nature of awarding a special honorarium to finance ministry employees for performing their duties during parliamentary budget session.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Ishaq asked what grievance the petitioner had if the government had announced the incentive. The petitioner's counsel responded that the state, under the Constitution, could not play a discriminatory role, adding that preparation of the budget is the prime responsibility of the employees of the finance ministry, which they render once in a year.

On the other hand, employees of other institutions work throughout the year but no such honorarium is announced for them, which is a discriminatory act, the counsel contended.

The counsel requested the court to set aside the notification issued in this regard by declaring the decision as discriminatory and unlawful.