A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Wahid Bux Brohi and Justice Musheer Alam on Friday ordered the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) not to take any adverse action in respect of Resident Medical Officers (RMOs) appointed on adhoc basis. The bench was hearing a number of identical constitution petitions filed by Dr Hafiz Abdul Waheed and 21 others who moved the court against probable termination of their services.

Raja Qureshi advocate appearing for the petitioners submitted that his clients were appointed on November 01, 2002 on contract basis for a period of two years extendable by one year but now institution instead of regularising their services tends to terminate them.

The counsel for SESSI appearing before the bench objected to the prayer in the petition and pleaded that petition is not maintainable. The petitioners seek a remedy/relief to which they are not entitled. They are relying on Sindh Civil Services Act, 1973 whereas SESSI is an autonomous body managed by a board of governors, counsel for SESSI said.

Raja Qureshi advocate prayed to the court to pass status quo order but the bench said that undertaking by the counsel for SESSI that no adverse action will be taken is enough.

The bench then by consent put off further hearing till January 07, 2005.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005