KARACHI, July 4: The Sindh Services Tribunal reinstated a police official on Monday but allowed the police department to institute a fresh inquiry against him in accordance with the law and rules. Former SHO of Gambat, Raja Farrukh, was first sent on forced leave without pay and later dismissed from service for refusing to register a first information report of a robbery. The victim, who was deprived of his motorcycle, approached the high-ups and the SHO was asked to relinquish his charge. He was issued a show-cause notice and removed from service under the Special Powers (Removal from Service) Ordinance.

He approached the service tribunal through Advocate Mohammad Nawaz Shaikh, who argued that a show cause notice was never served on him. He could not be punished twice for the same misconduct or offence, first by way of leave without pay and then by removal from service.

An SST bench, comprising tribunal chairman Abdul Ghani Shaikh and member Zahoor Ahmed Shah, held that the inquiry against the appellant suffered from grave irregularities and could not sustain the penalty inflicted on him. The respondent department was, however, free to institute a new inquiry in accordance with the rules.