Sindh High Court Stops Recovery of Benefits from Teachers’ Salaries and Pensions
By Zeeshan Naseem :
The Sindh High Court has intervened to protect current and retired teachers from salary and pension deductions, issuing an interim order halting any recovery actions while a petition challenging government policy changes is heard.
A constitutional bench issued the directive on Thursday in response to a petition filed by teachers challenging the discontinuation of the time-scale policy and the subsequent demand for repayment of benefits already received.
Petitioners’ Case
Lawyer Asadullah Baloch, representing the teachers, informed the court that his clients include both serving and retired educators from the provincial Department of Education. The petitioners comprise regular teachers, physical training instructors, and workshop instructors who received promotions and upgrades during their service in accordance with departmental rules.
Under the Sindh government’s time-scale policy, these teachers were placed in grades 15 to 20 and received salaries and benefits accordingly. However, on January 21, the Finance Department issued a letter that was followed by an implementation directive from the School Education Department, leading to deductions from salaries and pensions and demands for repayment of additional benefits.
The petitioners argue that these recovery actions are unlawful, particularly for retired teachers who received these benefits during their active service and have no means to repay amounts already consumed.
Court Order
After hearing the arguments, the constitutional bench directed that no involuntary deductions be made from teachers’ salaries or pensions until the next hearing. The court also restrained the Treasury Department and other concerned authorities from proceeding with recovery actions in the meantime.
Notices have been issued to the Department of Education and other relevant parties, with the hearing adjourned for three weeks to allow respondents to submit their positions.
Implications
The interim order provides temporary relief to potentially hundreds of teachers who were facing salary deductions and pension cuts. Teachers’ representatives welcomed the decision, noting that it protects their financial rights while the legal process continues.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between provincial education authorities and teaching staff over compensation policies and the retrospective withdrawal of benefits granted during service. The court’s final decision will determine whether the government can legally recover benefits previously extended under the time-scale policy.
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