Odd one out: TEVTA official moves court against his termination

The petitioner claims he was punished for voicing against corruption.

RAWALPINDI:

A senior official of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has challenged his termination in court alleging he was removed for raising voice against departmental corruption and irregularities.

Muhammad Rasheed, the former zone manager (ZM) north at TEVTA filed a petition with Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court last week after a departmental appeal against his termination was not decided by the chief minister Punjab within 30 days.

The high court is likely to take up the petition in the current week for preliminary hearing.

Citing chief minister and chief secretary Punjab and TEVTA’s chairperson, manager administration and deputy manager administration as respondents, the former ZM said he was dismissed from service without cause or prior notice.

In his appeal to the CM, Rasheed said that he suggested that a cartel of prequalified IT companies were quoting high prices for IT related equipment required by TEVTA.

He also wrote a letter on the subject to TEVTA secretariat on January 28, 2011 but after receiving no response, he along with two other officials met with the chairperson of the authority to convey their dissatisfaction over the quotations.

Instead of appreciating my efforts for maintaining merit, the chairperson expressed his annoyance and directed to purchase the equipment from the cartel, he said.

According to Rasheed, the composition of the purchase committee was also changed after this deal.

“I have also raised my voice against the third-party evaluation of annual development plans and promotions of favoured juniors over deserving seniors along with other matters,” said the petitioner.

He has asked the court to declare the orders of his termination unlawful.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2011.