ISLAMABAD: For the first time the top management of the Capital Development Authority (CDA)seems excited upon cognizance taken by the Supreme Court of Pakistan against alleged irregularities in the civic body.

“The good thing is that, since a move has been made by the apex court, employees who are penalised for getting improper promotions cannot get a stay order from the lower courts,” said a senior official of the civic body.

The Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court on Thursday sought details about all improper and irregular upgradations and promotions in the CDA in the recent past.

Wasting no time, the civic body on Friday submitted its reply to the apex court, highlighting the current status of the cases and even the future course of action against those who would be found guilty.

Around 300 cases of improper upgradations and promotions identified in civic agency since 2007

However, to avoid any backlash from unions and employees who have got improper promotions, senior officials of CDA remained tight-lipped about the reply submitted to the HR cell of the apex court.

Meanwhile, one of the senior executives of the CDA said the apex court had been informed that the issue related to the irregular promotions was brought forward in the labour court - the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC).

The reply said around 300 cases of improper upgradations and promotions had been identified since 2007 by an inquiry committee led by DG administration Sohail Durrani.

“Out of them, 172 show-cause notices have already been issued and the process continues,” the letter said, adding these employee would have to show their credentials to the HR department of the authority so that the scrutiny of the promotions could be made.

The apex court’s cell has been informed that the inquiry would be completed in around two months and its results would be forwarded to the NIRC.

However, sources in the CDA told Dawn that the top management of the civic body had decided to revert all the promotions that were determined as ‘improper or irregular’ by the inquiry committee.

Since the matter has been taken up at the labour court and now by the HR cell of the apex court, there are less chances that the employees, whose promotions would be reverted, would approach the courts.

“Whenever such a decision is made it will give a clear message to all the CDA employees that getting out-of-turn promotions either through bribery or using political approaches will backfire sooner or later,” said an employee of the environment wing who is one of the complainants against the massive promotions.

Apart from the promotions, the CDA has also witnessed a direct appointment in grade 18 on a daily wage basis and the officer was later regularised.

“The appointment was made on ‘work charge’ basis that is only used for low-grade employees such as gardeners or watchmen. But this officer was directly appointed in grade 18 as a financial expert,” said an officer in the law department.

But the real catch for the CDA would be to penalise the officers who approved such promotions or appointments. The senior management has yet to decide if any action could be initiated against those officers.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2014