KARACHI, June 21: A division bench of the Sindh High Court asked a provincial attorney to submit a rejoinder on behalf of the irrigation authorities in a petition alleging exclusion of three government contractors from bidding.
The petitioners submitted through Advocate Mansoorul Haq Solangi that they had submitted tenders for seven projects after meeting all requirements, but the date and venue of the bidding were changed without any notice or information to them. The tenders were to be opened on May 16 and 22 but were received and opened on June 1. The dates were verbally extended. Besides the bidding was to be held at the Larkana irrigation division but the venue was also verbally changed to Pano Akil.
Additional Advocate-General Abbas Ali appeared on court notice and sought time for filing comments. The vacation division bench, comprising Justices Mushir Alam and Mohammad Athar Saeed, adjourned the hearing to July 10.
REINSTATED: The Federal Service Tribunal reinstated an employee of the National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. Appellant Intizar Hussain was appointed nursing attendant at the NICH to a vacancy reserved for the disabled. He was removed from service in September 2002 for absenting himself from duty for two months without intimation.
An FST bench, comprising Qazi Mohammad Hussain Siddiqui and Rashid Ali Mirza, held that the appellant was removed from service by an officer lower in rank than the appointing or competent authority. Besides, a deputy director acted both as the competent authority and the authorized officer. The disciplinary proceedings conducted against him were not in accordance with the law. Allowing the appeal, the bench reinstated the appellant, but allowed the employer institute to hold a fresh regular inquiry within four months. The question of back benefits would depend on the outcome of the inquiry.
