Chief Secretary Instructed to Act Against KDA DG for Defying Court Orders
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a stern warning of coercive action against the Director General of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and other officials for their persistent non-compliance with court directives regarding the disbursement of pensionary benefits to retired employees. A two-judge constitutional bench, presided over by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, expressed its inability to proceed further without intervention.
The bench has consequently directed the Chief Secretary of Sindh to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the KDA Director General and other responsible individuals. This action stems from the continued failure to implement the court’s earlier orders in their entirety concerning the full payment of benefits to the petitioners. The court noted that “complete compliance has not been made.”
KDA Officials Face Disciplinary Action
The legal battle began in 2024 when a group of retired KDA employees petitioned the SHC, seeking court intervention for the payment of their long-overdue pensionary benefits. Their subsequent contempt applications highlighted the alleged defiance of court orders by senior KDA officials. SindhNews.com has been following this case closely.
The SHC’s order dated August of the previous year had unequivocally mandated the respondents to clear all outstanding pensionary dues within a two-month timeframe. Failure to comply was to result in contempt proceedings.
Financial Constraints Cited Amidst Non-Compliance
A report filed by the KDA acknowledged facing a prolonged financial crisis. It stated that substantial amounts, totaling billions of rupees, have already been disbursed to approximately 1,407 retired employees in adherence to the SHC’s previous rulings. SindhNews.com confirmed these figures.
The KDA’s finance and accounts department, in a letter dated January 13, proposed several measures to alleviate the financial shortfall. These included requesting an enhanced monthly allocation from the Sindh finance department and a one-time grant of Rs 3,000 million, both reportedly under processing. The authority also indicated that revised land transaction rates are expected to bolster revenue generation.
Court Demands Full Compliance
Despite these reports, the bench emphasized that full compliance had not been achieved. “However, as full compliance has not yet been made effected, in such circumstances of the case, coupled with the issue of pensionary benefits of petitioners, which is of paramount consideration, this court is constrained to direct the chief secretary Sindh to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the director general, KDA and other officials of the respondents and in case of non-compliance, coercive measures shall be taken against the delinquents,” the order stated. The court further directed the concerned officials to appear in person at the next hearing.
The KDA’s counsel had attempted to negotiate a partial payment, offering an additional 10% within a week. However, the bench rejected this proposal, underscoring the urgency and necessity of full compliance with its orders.
Conclusion
The Sindh High Court’s decisive directive to the Chief Secretary signifies a critical juncture in ensuring retired KDA employees receive their rightful pensionary benefits. The stern warning of disciplinary and coercive action against the KDA Director General and other officials serves as a clear message against the disregard of judicial mandates, ultimately aiming to resolve the long-standing issue of delayed payments.