Law: Constitution of Pakistan, 1973

Section: 204

Summary

The petitioners, contractual employees appointed as Community Midwives in 2014–2015, filed a contempt application alleging non-compliance with the High Court’s earlier order dated 13.01.2023, which had directed the authorities to consider their regularization as a policy decision due to prolonged retention of services.

The respondents contended that the petitioners were appointed after the cut-off date of the Sindh Regularization of Ad-hoc and Contract Employees Act, 2013, that no current legal framework permits regularization, and that proposed policies and draft bills are still pending. They also relied on contractual undertakings by the petitioners not to claim regularization.

After examining the compliance report and hearing the parties, the Court held that the matter does not constitute contempt. However, considering the long retention of services and extensions granted under Policy 2022, the Court directed the competent authority to consider regularization of the petitioners under existing policy or under the proposed Sindh Contract Appointment Acts, 2023, once enacted. The contempt application was disposed of accordingly.