March 13, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 9, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

PESHAWAR, March 12: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the performance of the NWFP education department and directed the government to take stern action against the officials involved in corruption.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad and Justice Mian Muhammad Ajmal heard various appeals pertaining to the education department.

The bench allowed the appeal of a former employee of the department, Mohammad Ali Shah, and remanded the case to the NWFP Services Tribunal with directives to decide it within one month.

The bench regretted that more than five months had passed but the officials had not produced the record before the court. The bench observed that the education secretary was summoned for committing contempt of the court in October, but no action was taken against him when he tendered an apology and promised that the record would be produced.

A director of the primary education department, Jamshed Tanoli, informed the court that the record had been misplaced therefore, time should be given to the job.

Turning down his plea, the bench observed that due to corruption the department’s performance was worst. The bench directed the governor, the chief minister and the chief secretary to conduct an inquiry into the department’s affairs and take stern action against concerned officials.

PLEAS DISMISSED: The bench dismissed 38 appeals of the NWFP government, challenging reinstatement of as many untrained teachers by the NWFP Services Tribunal.

Advocate Roohul Ameen appeared for teachers and argued that the district education officer, Battagram, Fazal Mabood, had appointed those teachers in 1995. He pointed out an advertisement was specifically made for recruitment of untrained teachers as trained teachers were not available in backward areas.

The lawyer said an inquiry was also conducted against the district education officer but he was exonerated of charges and appointments were declared in accordance with law. On the same ground, he argued, the tribunal had reinstated the respondents.

The Supreme Court also dismissed seven other appeals of the government against a judgment of the services tribunal.

The tribunal had accepted petitions of seven teachers and ordered that their posts should be upgraded to grade 17 from grade 16.