A plea has been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking implementation of the inquiry report’s findings relating to irregularities in postings and promotions in the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) seven years ago.
In 2019, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had formed a high level committee in response to irregularities in the number of posts, especially deputy directors, assistant directors and superintendents who were appointed on non-existing posts.
The petitioner made the federation of Pakistan through federal education minister, secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, director general, Federal Directorate of Education Islamabad and prime minister officer through its secretary, Islamabad as respondents in the matter.
The petitioner submitted that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had issued directives through its verdict on November 25, 2011 that the Federal Government cannot absolve itself from the responsibility of providing Education to its citizens. He further said that in the light of Supreme Court Judgment, a summary was moved to Prime Minister of Pakistan who was pleased to approve the renaming of Ministry as “Ministry of Education and Training” which was duly notified by the Cabinet Division on 24th July, 2012.
Subsequently, the Council of Common Interest (CCI) in its meeting held on 8th November, 2012 endorsed the renaming of Ministry and approved its functioning with the subjects already assigned to it. The petitioner also apprised the court that time and again he approached respondents and pointed out irregularities urging them to take steps to repatriate those officials who were illegally promoted.
He also alleged that some FED officials have received millions of rupees from the head of evening shift in the Islamabad Model Colleges without performing duties. He urged the court to issue directives to the respondents to get the inquiry report’s findings implemented, saying it has come to the fore that there have been several irregularities in the FDE. Terming the irregularities a cause of great distress for the petitioner as an educationalist and citizen of Islamabad.
The petitioner alleged that the respondents have acted in an arbitrary manner while ignoring the recommendations of the inquiry committee saying several employees of the DG FDE have suffered due to the irregularities in the department.
“It is settled law that persons similarly placed cannot be treated differently. The employees of FDE have been discriminated against on the basis of personal preference. Furthermore, no action has been taken on the suspicious appointments of several employees of the FDE”, the petitioner submitted.
He sought the court directives to respondents to ensure the enforcement of all the recommendations of the inquiry report, alleging that the actions of the respondents since the new government has come to power makes it clear that they only want to appoint people of their own choosing and not based on merits, which should not be allowed in any civilized society as it would curtail the growth of scholars in Pakistan.
