HYDERABAD, March 18: Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, here on Thursday set aside an order of the former provincial health adviser, terminating the services of eight employees.

The court, comprising Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, issued the order on a petition of Dr Aftab Azam and seven other employees of the health department.

Additional Advocate-General, Sindh, Masood A. Noorani, submitted para-wise comments of Sindh health secretary Ashiq Memon in response to a court notice. The secretary said that posts were advertized in different newspapers and he had appointed selection committee through a notification.

Mr Memon said petitioners were offered posts by him and admitted the board constituted by the respondent medical superintendent of the services Hospital issued fitness certificates.

The AAG told the court the former adviser to Sindh chief minister on health had issued a letter cancelling the recruitments under the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care.

Counsel Jhamatmal Jethanand filed a joint petition, arguing the petitioners had successfully passed tests and interviews and were selected by the committee. He said after they joined their services, former adviser Noman Saigal issued a cancellation order and held posts would be filled through a selection committee to be headed by him.

Mr Jethanand said it was under his directive that the civil surgeon, health services department, cancelled their fitness certificates. He contended the orders were passed without any notice to petitioners and were against principles of natural justice and liable to be declared void.

He pleaded that petitioners joined their duties in pursuance of selection procedure and the adviser passed unlawful orders. He prayed the court to declare the order of former adviser, cancelling petitioners' appointment as unlawful.