KARACHI: A constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court has ordered authorities to stop deductions from the salaries and pensions of teachers.
The court was hearing a petition against the withdrawal of time scale benefits and recovery of additional allowances.
The court directed that no forced recoveries be made from teachers’ salaries or pensions until the next hearing. The bench also restrained the Finance Department and other relevant authorities from taking any further action in the matter.
Notices have been issued to the Education Department and other concerned parties. The hearing has been adjourned for three weeks.
The court remarked that no compulsory deductions should be made from the salaries or pensions of teachers until further orders.
Petitioners’ counsel Asadullah Baloch informed the court that the applicants include both retired and serving teachers from the cadres of drawing teachers, physical training instructors, and workshop instructors.
He argued that the teachers were granted promotions and upgradations in accordance with service rules during their tenure. Under the Government of Sindh’s time scale policy, they were paid salaries ranging from Grade 15 to Grade 20.
According to the lawyer, the Finance Department issued a letter on January 21, followed by an implementation directive from the School Education Department, leading to deductions and recovery notices.
The petitioners contended that the salary deductions and recovery of previously granted benefits are illegal, especially as several affected teachers have already retired.
