Out-of-turn allotment: CJP reprimands Estate Office officials
SC directs secretary housing to ensure merit or face charges.
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment on a petition against discrimination in allotment of accommodation to federal government employees.
Housing and Works Secretary Kamran Lashari submitted a report before a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, regarding the allotment policy.
The official informed the court that only 16,000 housing units are currently available for 500,000 government employees in the capital city. He said that around 2,624 official residences had been allotted out-of-turn since 2004.
He informed the court that the applications of two government employees, Shabbir Hussain and Asif Shuja, for allotment of official residence were pending before the Estate Office since 1974 and 1977, respectively.
Justice Chaudhry termed the attitude of the Estate Office officials as “apathetic” and asked Lashari to start search for the two employees. The court observed several irregularities in the allotment process and warned the secretary to ensure allotments on merit, not favouritism, else they will have to face charges before the National Accountability Bureau.
The issue was taken up after an application written by an official, Muhammad Afzal, to the apex court highlighting discrimination in the allotment of official residences.
On Tuesday, Joint Estate Officer Qaiser Mahmood admitted in the court that there had been out-of-turn allotments and said that around 17,364 applications had been pending for the last 25 years.
During the hearing, the CJ had observed that well connected people succeeded in getting government residences. “Once an official gets a residence, he then transfers it to his son and the process continues for generations,” Justice Chaudhry remarked.
Earlier, the court had ordered strict action against the Estate Office for delaying allotment of residences. A report was presented before the court on behalf of District and Sessions Judge Islamabad, stating that most of the cases remain pending as the Estate Office authorities file their replies in six to seven months. The court directed Lashari to take strict action against EO officials. The court also directed the District and Sessions Judge to promptly dispose of the allotment cases.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2011.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment on a petition against discrimination in allotment of accommodation to federal government employees.
Housing and Works Secretary Kamran Lashari submitted a report before a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, regarding the allotment policy.
The official informed the court that only 16,000 housing units are currently available for 500,000 government employees in the capital city. He said that around 2,624 official residences had been allotted out-of-turn since 2004.
He informed the court that the applications of two government employees, Shabbir Hussain and Asif Shuja, for allotment of official residence were pending before the Estate Office since 1974 and 1977, respectively.
Justice Chaudhry termed the attitude of the Estate Office officials as “apathetic” and asked Lashari to start search for the two employees. The court observed several irregularities in the allotment process and warned the secretary to ensure allotments on merit, not favouritism, else they will have to face charges before the National Accountability Bureau.
The issue was taken up after an application written by an official, Muhammad Afzal, to the apex court highlighting discrimination in the allotment of official residences.
On Tuesday, Joint Estate Officer Qaiser Mahmood admitted in the court that there had been out-of-turn allotments and said that around 17,364 applications had been pending for the last 25 years.
During the hearing, the CJ had observed that well connected people succeeded in getting government residences. “Once an official gets a residence, he then transfers it to his son and the process continues for generations,” Justice Chaudhry remarked.
Earlier, the court had ordered strict action against the Estate Office for delaying allotment of residences. A report was presented before the court on behalf of District and Sessions Judge Islamabad, stating that most of the cases remain pending as the Estate Office authorities file their replies in six to seven months. The court directed Lashari to take strict action against EO officials. The court also directed the District and Sessions Judge to promptly dispose of the allotment cases.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2011.