SHC Stops Salary, Pension Deductions from Teachers in Sindh

A constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday ordered authorities to stop deductions from the salaries and pensions of teachers across the province.

The court also restrained the Treasury Department and other relevant authorities from taking further action until the next hearing.

The bench was hearing a petition challenging the suspension of the time-scale policy and the recovery of additional financial benefits from teachers.

Advocate Asadullah Baloch, representing the petitioners, told the court that the applicants include both retired and serving teachers from the Sindh Education Department.

The petitioners include regular teachers, physical training instructors, and workshop instructors.

According to the petition, teachers were promoted and upgraded during their service under departmental rules. Under the Sindh government’s time-scale policy, salaries were paid in grades 15 to 20.

However, the Finance Department Sindh issued a letter on January 21, followed by an implementation directive from the School Education Department Sindh, leading to salary deductions and recovery of benefits.

The petitioners argue that the deductions and recovery of additional payments are unlawful, particularly for retired teachers.

After hearing the arguments, the Sindh High Court directed that no involuntary deductions be made from teachers’ salaries or pensions until further orders. The court also issued notices to the relevant departments and adjourned the hearing for three weeks.