September 9, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 11, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: The federal government informed the Supreme Court on Monday it will amend the Services Tribunal Act, 1973, to empower the Federal Service Tribunal to take action against delinquent officials for not accepting FST’s verdicts.

The issue had arisen when a number of petitioners approached the Federal Service Tribunal that its decisions were flouted by the officials.

The tribunal declared that its powers were restricted only to the extent of giving decisions, and if the judgment was not implemented it had no power to take the responsible official to task, as the law under which the tribunal was established, provided no mechanism for the implementation of its decisions.

On Monday when the case was taken up by an SC bench, comprising Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice Tanvir Ahmad Khan, Deputy Attorney-General Hafiz S. A. Rehman informed the court that the government was considering to amend the Service Tribunal Act, 1973, to empower the tribunal to get its decisions implemented.

The proposed amendment would vest the tribunal with the contempt of the tribunal powers and its members would enjoy all powers under the law of Contempt of Court.

The court adjourned the case for two months to allow the government amend the law.