SHC restores govt employee's daughter job

Court orders reinstatement with full back benefits

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has declared unlawful the termination of the daughter of a retired disabled Pakistan Post employee and directed the department to reinstate her services along with payment of all outstanding dues.

The court issued the ruling while hearing a petition filed against the termination of employment granted to the petitioner, Juriya, under the disability quota after her father's medical retirement from Pakistan Post.

The petitioner's counsel argued that her father had served as a porter and was retired on medical grounds. Following his retirement, the petitioner was appointed under the disability quota but her services were terminated in 2025.

The government's counsel contended that the Prime Minister's Assistance Package and related policies for employment of children of deceased or disabled employees were no longer in effect, and that in light of Supreme Court judgments, the petitioner was not entitled to such appointment. He added that quota-based policies had effectively been discontinued.

However, the petitioner's counsel maintained that she was appointed after fulfilling all legal requirements. The court observed that her appointment had already been made and noted that Supreme Court rulings clearly state that previously granted appointments cannot be reversed.

The bench further observed that accrued rights of family members arising from an employee's disability or retirement could not be extinguished through subsequent policy changes or judicial interpretations. It held that the petitioner's appointment could not be treated as a mere administrative action liable to reversal.

The court observed that under the amended 2022 Prime Minister's Assistance Package, the petitioner was entitled to regularisation, and termed the department's assumption behind the termination as unlawful.

Subsequently, the court set aside the termination order, directed the restoration of her employment on a permanent basis, and ordered payment of all back benefits and salary.