RAWALPINDI, Aug 30: Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Thursday issued notices to secretaries’ health and education of Punjab and other senior officials on a contempt of court petition filed by 150 teachers of district Rawalpindi, against their alleged force deployment in matters not related to their job.

Petitioners Ausaf Ahmed Satti and others through their counsel Raja Saimul Haq Satti told the court that despite the fact that court on July 26, had restrained the authorities of ministries of health and education from taking any adverse action against the teachers who were not ready to engage in work not relevant to their profession.

They cited Captain (retired) Arif Naeemuddin secretary health, Mohammad Aslam Kamboh secretary education of Punjab, Saqib Zafar district coordination officer Rawalpindi, Qazi Zahoorul Haq executive district officer (education) and Nisar Ahmed Cheema the director general health services Punjab as respondents.

Advocate Satti told the court that the respondents have asked teachers to perform extra duties as members of polio vaccination team to be deployed in different areas of the district Rawalpindi and to assist the teams constituted by the Election Commission of Pakistan for preparation of electoral rolls or other allied matters.

He said the teachers who refused to perform the extra duties in addition to their own job are being proceeded under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006, which is a violation of the court order because the court has specifically restrained the authorities from taking any adverse action against the teachers and that order is still in the filed.

He suggested that instead of deploying the teachers on these assignments, a separate machinery and staff for polio vaccination and election preparation should be arranged which would enable the teachers to concentrate on educating children.

According to him the current situation is causing hardships, harassment, mental agony, threats and service insecurity among the children, adding that respondents have committed offences which are cognizable under Article 204 of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 read with Section 3/5of contempt of court ordinance Act, 2004.

He requested to the court to summon the respondents and the responsible be punished in accordance with law.