The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over non-compliance with its earlier orders in a case pertaining to the regularization of employees of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida).
During the hearing, the court observed that its directives issued five years ago regarding the regularization of 27 officers had not been implemented. The bench questioned the conduct of the Secretary Sida, Khurram Shehzad, and Managing Director Pritam Das for failing to comply with the court’s orders.
On being dissatisfied with their explanations, the court directed that both officers be taken into custody for non-implementation of its judgment. Police personnel present in the courtroom subsequently took the two officials into custody.
Counsel for the petitioners, Aqeel Awan Advocate, informed the bench that the court had ordered the regularisation of 27 Sida officers five years ago. He submitted that the officers had been working on contract since 2000 in Grade 17 and Grade 18 posts.
The bench noted that the officials were unable to provide satisfactory reasons for not regularising the employees despite clear judicial directions.The matter is expected to proceed further after compliance with the court’s orders.
