SIALKOT-The ban on transfer of government servants in the Punjab province is reportedly being ridiculed by the local officialdom for appointment of their blue-eyed persons especially in schools, it is learnt.
A notification (PS/SSE/MISC/2009/3 dated 5 January 2010) in continuation of Education Department's notification (DS (SSE/MISC/2009/81 dated 14 April 2009) empowers the school headmasters to surrender their staff's services to their transferring authority for further instructions.
Sources said that since the imposition of the ban on transfers, the notification is serving as its replacement and those employees who oppose the corrupt system are dealt with under the notification. Such employees' services are surrendered to the transferring authority and salaries are stopped. However, the blue-eyed persons of the district administration officer or any parliamentarian are exempted from being a victim.
For instance, the PML-N lawmaker from PP-130 had asked DEO Raja Ezaz to appoint his white-haired Noreen Jahan at Government Elementary School Mandranwala at any cost. In furtherance of the order, an order (1098/G-II dated 29/3/2014) was passed but there was no vacant post in the school. The DEO asked his DDOE Amanullah to issue an order to surrender the services of EST Arif Masih and replace him with EST Ehsanullah Bajwa to create a post for the lady.
The DDOE firstly refused to obey the unlawful order and then was forced to do so. He issued a letter (1127/E-I dated 5/4/2014) in which he surrendered the services of Arif, stating "In consequent upon the telephonic instruction of the district education officer (M-EE) Sialkot, the service of Mr Arif Masih EST GES Mandranwala tehsil Daska are hereby surrendered."
When Arif approached the DEO office, he was told that he was going to replace EST Ehsanullah and the orders will soon be issued on it. Though Headmaster Zulfiqar Ali surrendered the services of Ehsanullah via order (336/HM dated 11/4/2014) but the DEO did not appoint Arif on his place. Now, both the teachers are suspended and their salaries are blocked by the department.
When asked Ex-EDO Education Sialkot Riaz Ahmed Sohi said that transferring authority of EST grade 14 is the DCO but the EDO education is addressed on the surrender of services orders. Commenting on the surrender issues, said that there was clear indication of misuse of powers.
The EDO education pledged to look into the matter. DEO Ezaz said that though it is the right of EDO education to be addressed in the letters for surrender of powers, in special circumstances other officers can use it via delegation of powers. DDEO Amanullah said that he is bound to obey his seniors in all respects. Meanwhile, the MPA denied the allegations, saying that had already requested the authorities concerned to reinstate the teachers.