FBR employees: Officers who had sanctioned promotions summoned by SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday summoned the concerned officers of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) who had sanctioned the promotions of employees.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the appeal of FBR against Islamabad High Court verdict. The Chief Justice directed the concerned officers to bring record with them.

The Chief Justice said the FBR officers must submit a report how employees were promoted despite a ban. He said the officers should inform the court about the consequences if promotions are declared null and void.

Misbah Gulnar, representing FBR, informed the court that in 2000 around 32 employees from grade-5 to grade-11 were on acting charge in field formation and they were informed that as the ban would be lifted, they would be reverted to their previous position as these posts have to be filled through direct recruitment. However, after the lifting of ban they approached the IHC and got a verdict in their favor. She also told the bench that many employees have retired while rest of them are going to retire soon.

The Chief Justice said low-grade employees can't be blamed for promotion as the high-ups in the FBR have done this.

Justice Ijaz said if the court voids the promotion after 18 years then it will be great injustice with the employees. The FBR counsel said the employees are enjoying the benefit of promotion.

Justice Ijaz asked the FBR counsel to bring the concerned officers, who had ordered promotions, to inform the court if the employees had been promoted illegally then what its consequences would be.

Advocate on Record Mehmood A Sheikh informed the bench that law minister Farogh Naseem is the counsel for many promoted employees. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan said they had directed Farogh Naseem to ask his alternate lawyer to represent the employees.

Mehmood A Sheikh said that they had conveyed the message to the law minister Farogh Naseem, who called for taking adjournment this time and on the next hearing, a new lawyer will be nominated to represent the employees.

The Chief Justice said this case has been adjourned thrice, but now they would not do it.

Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, who also represented some promoted employees, told the bench that Farogh Naseem is representing a large number of the employees and therefore the case be adjourned.

Accepting his plea, the case was adjourned for an indefinite period.