LAHORE: The Graduate English Teachers Association (GETA) has asked the Punjab chief secretary to issue orders for the regularization and promotion of English teachers to grade-16 as per the notified rules with effect from July 28, 2004.

“The matter related to implementation of notified rules of English teachers is still lying pending with the chief secretary office despite orders issued by the Lahore High Court in March 2016 to decide the case within 60 days,” reads a statement issued by the GETA.

The GETA had submitted the application to the office of secretary (schools) on June 9, 2014, for the implementation of notified service rules framed by a committee in its meeting on June 15, 2004, and a draft notification and recommendations passed by the committee.

A writ petition 11260/ 2014 had been filed in the LHC (Multan bench) and the judge directed the secretary (schools) to decide pending applications of petitioners after hearing.

The hearing had been held on Sept 9, 2014, and the matter/claim was rejected on Oct 10, 2014. Rejection orders were challenged through a writ petition 15457/2014.

“The Multan bench judge set aside the rejection order, directing the secretary (schools) to provide fair opportunity of hearing and decide the case as per law because the matter is of fundamental rights under the Constitution of Pakistan 1973,” the statement said.

It said the petitioners were heard in March 2015 and the claim was again rejected by the deputy secretary. Therefore, the GETA submitted an appeal to the chief secretary against the orders passed by the department. Another writ petition No 3995 of 2016 was also filed in the LHC that was heard on March 15 this year.

The petition was disposed of with the direction to the chief secretary to decide the pending appeal of petitioners within two months and petitioners were directed to appear before the CS on March 24, 2016, in this regard.

The hearing was held on July 26, 2016, and the chief secretary ordered the forming of a high-level committee under his chairmanship. “The matter of the implementation of notified rules is still lying pending with the chief secretary office. And we appeal to the CS to decide the case on merit,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2016