Supreme Court restores promotion rights of govt employees

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has given a major verdict in the case related to the promotion of government employees.

The Supreme Court, while giving its verdict regarding the delay in the promotion of government employees, has restored the right of the eligible officer to be promoted from the day of the first departmental promotion committee. The court has declared the decision of the Punjab Service Tribunal null and void and declared the promotion of government employee Fakhar Majeed effective from January 21, 2012.

According to the verdict, the Punjab Service Tribunal had rejected the appeal regarding the promotion of Fakhar Majeed and had taken the position that an employee is not entitled to promotion from the day the post becomes vacant. The Supreme Court, rejecting this position, declared that the eligible government employee is entitled to promotion from the day the first departmental promotion committee is held.

The 7-page written verdict was issued by Justice Ayesha Malik while the case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.

The court said in its decision that the employee Fakhar Majeed’s request was that his promotion be restored from the day of the first departmental promotion committee.

The Supreme Court ruled that promotion is a fundamental right of government employees. Administrative negligence or delay should not be the result of any case. The court said that a qualified government employee must be included in the departmental promotion committee for timely promotion. The employee cannot be punished for administrative negligence or delay.

The Supreme Court further ruled that delay or negligence in promotion will not affect the right of the employee. The Supreme Court directed government institutions to ensure timely promotion process. The decision said that employees cannot be punished for administrative failure.