Ombudsman Punjab orders one additional annual increment to the government employees

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab, Javaid Mehmood has ordered one additional annual increment to all the government employees on their up-gradation. In his directives, Ombudsman has made it clear that up-gradation of any employee tantamounts his promotion to the next grade. He has ordered provincial finance department to review up-gradation policy of the government servants and after necessary amendment, submit to the ombudsman office within two months.

 He issued these orders on the application of the employees of Government College of Commerce Peoples Colony Gujranwala upgraded from the post of junior instructor to instructor in 2006.

The instructors had said that when they contacted District Accounts Office Gujranwala for fixation of their salaries a new, they refused to accept up-gradation as promotion and they are not being given this right after passage of six years. Ombudsman Punjab ordered Advisor Ombudsman Office Wazir Ahmed Qureshi to enquire into the matter who sought reply from Accountant General Punjab and Punjab Finance Department but both the institutions were not ready to give financial incentives.

Wazir Ahmed Qureshi informed Ombudsman Punjab about the details of financial benefits of instructors and his opinion in this regard. In his directives, Ombudsman Punjab has declared that the instructors should not only be given additional annual increment but also paid dues from 2006 to till date within one month. He also termed the up-gradation of all government employees as promotion to next grade and also ordered to given an additional annual increment. Ombudsman Punjab wrote in his order that Supreme Court of Pakistan and Federal Services Tribunal in their decisions have also declared that up-gradation tantamounts to promotion, therefore, Finance Department should review its policy of up-gradation of employees as promotion and after making amendment in rules should submit its report to Ombudsman office within two months.

He expressed his astonishment that up-gradation of instructors was made through a notification after the approval of Finance Department and permission of competent authorities and their place of posting was also changed but rules and regulations were not followed for granting them financial incentives.