KARACHI, Nov 17: The Federal Service Tribunal has reinstated an employee of the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, with retrospective effect. M. Shahid Mughal was employed as a storekeeper at the centre in 1996. He was dismissed from service in September 2001 under the efficiency and discipline rules.

He was accused of inefficiency and misconduct, theft of books and gross misbehaviour with his superiors. He challenged his dismissal after moving a departmental representation, which failed to elicit any response, through Advocate Mansoorul Haq Solangi.

An FST bench comprising Qazi Muhammad Hussain Siddiqui and Rashid Ali Mirza observed that a major penalty was imposed on the appellant employee without a regular inquiry.

He was not afforded an opportunity of hearing. Grave irregularities vitiated the entire proceedings and the appellant merited reinstatement with effect from his removal in September 2001.

He would be entitled to all back benefits for the period he remained unemployed. However, the respondent university authorities would be at liberty to institute a fresh inquiry in accordance with the law and rules.