HYDERABAD: Fate of engineers in the communication & works (C&W) cadre hangs in the balance as the Sindh government is reluctant to separate their seniority list from that of their counterparts in the education works cadre and segregate the education works wing from the ministry of works & services (W&S).

The controversy over the seniority list started after merger of the education works and C&W departments and creation of a new W&S department in 2001 since a few officers of education works who are said to be highly influential are in favour of the combined list which benefits them more at the cost of their counterparts, according to sources.

The sources said the government was dragging its feet over separating the lists despite clear findings of the Sindh Services Tribunal (SST) and Supreme Court verdict, calling for preparation of separate lists.

The influential education works officers held additional charges and were paid on the basis of OPS (own pay and scale) which was again a violation of the apex court’s ruling. In addition, they held top positions in buildings and highways departments as well, said the sources.

But, they said, the government appeared to be adamant on continuing with the present set-up in spite of stiff opposition by secretary of the education & literacy department Dr Fazalullah Pechuho.

The tribunal submitted its findings on Oct 28, 2013, which set aside the combined list and said it was depriving C&W engineers of promotions and rendering them juniors to their counterparts in education works.

The findings clearly spelt out functions of engineers of both cadres which were mentioned by the apex court as well in its June 18, 2014, judgement. The tribunal and the apex court orders called for separate lists and doing away with the March 1, 2012 combined list.

With a separate list the C&W engineers would automatically get promotion to next scale and be able to win different fringed benefits.

Dr Pechuho had requested the chief minister through a summary in July 2013 before the tribunal and apex court judgements to separate engineering works wing from the W&S department.

His stand was endorsed by the education minister but it was opposed by the secretary of W&S and his minister who argued that “withdrawal of education works directorate will encourage other administrative departments to move for establishment of their own directorates to undertake their development schemes”.

Dr Pechuho again sent a summary to the CM, referring to the tribunal’s findings and requesting that after repeal of the Sindh Local Government Ordi­nance 2001, erstwhile education works department should have been reverted to education department.

Taking to Dawn, he said: “We are observing poor quality of work in development schemes of schools and colleges which have been executed by W&S engineers under the ADP schemes. I need my wing back for proper monitoring and it will automatically resolve seniority issue of engineers of both cadres”.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2015

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