LHC Dismisses DG Legal Railways Plea Against His Termination

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jan, 2019 ) :The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Director General Legal, Pakistan Railways, Tahir Parvaiz against his termination.

The court held that Tahir Parvaiz's termination order was legal as the same was issued by the competent authority and in accordance with his employment contract.

Justice Jawad Hassan announced the verdict which had been reserved after hearing arguments of the parties on Tuesday.

Earlier, the petitioner's counsel pleaded with the court to set aside the impugned termination orders of the DG Legal, Railways, being illegal.

He submitted that the petitioner was appointed as DG Legal for a period of two years on contract basis, in 2014 and the same was extended from time to time and ultimately for one year from June 7, 2018. However, the respondent department terminated the petitioner's services through a letter on October 15, 2018, without assigning any reason or affording an opportunity of personal hearing, he added.

He further contended that the termination orders were not issued by the competent authority, the prime minister.

However, Railways' counsel argued that the petitioner was terminated as per terms and conditions of his contract and the order was issued with the approval of competent authority, the prime minister. Petitioner's contract was liable to be terminated on one month notice or one month basic pay in view of Clause-II of his contract, he added. He pleaded with the court to dismiss the petition.

It is pertinent to mention here that the LHC had earlier issued a stay order in favour of the DG legal. However, on December 29, 2018, the Supreme Court ordered for decision of the case within a week on a complaint by the Federal RailwaysMinister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad in this regard.