Ombudsman Punjab orders Secretary Local Government to appoint all employees recruited under Article 17-A

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood, has ordered Secretary Local Government and Community Development Department to appoint all employees recruited under Article 17-A, Punjab Service Rules, on regular basis and regularize all those who have already been recruited under Article-17-A. Ombudsman Punjab issued orders on the complaint filed by a Fireman of City District Government Lahore.

According to details, Sajjad Sabir Hussain, a Fireman of City District Government Lahore, lodged a complaint to Ombudsman Punjab that he was recruited on contract basis under Article 17-A, after death of his father while in service.

Appointment on contract basis under Article 17-A is violation rules and orders of Ombudsman Punjab. He requested to the authorities time and again but no relief is given so far. Ombudsman Punjab directed Advisor District Lahore Muhammad Muzaffar Khan to probe the issue.

It was revealed during process of inquiry that all employments under Article 17-A, including the applicant, were made on contract basis following the earlier appointments. Ombudsman Punjab ordered Secretary Local Government and Community Development Department to issue orders of regular employment in favour of the applicant and all those recruited alongwith him. He also ordered to regularize all those who recruited earlier under Article 17-A.

“The implied spirit of the Rule 17-A is to provide protection to the family of deceased employee not only for a limited period of contract only but on permanent basis”, said the Ombudsman Punjab. “Recruitment on contract basis under Rule 17-A is violative of rules and orders of Ombudsman Punjab”, concluded the Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood.