LAHORE, July 26: The Punjab government has replaced a superannuated bureaucrat with a septuagenarian former colleague as Daanish schools’ managing director-cum-chief executive officer in violation of rules.

The outgoing official, Yousaf Kamal, was 67 years old. He was quietly replaced a week ago by Sajid Hasan, who is 71.

The change of guards was confirmed by a Punjab School Education Department official who requested anonymity for fear for action by the chief minister, who allegedly made both moves. The official says Mr Hasan’s year of birth is 1941.

Officials of the Punjab government and its rules and regulations say both appointments are illegal. Mr Hassan, who is a retired federal education secretary, is a septuagenarian and does not qualify to be re-employed.

Mr Hasan has been given MP-I scale.

The Punjab government’s re-employment policy disqualifies the people over 63 years of age for re-employment.

The government’s Re-employment Policy, and the Contract Employment Policy, which are stated to be in accordance with Supreme Court of Pakistan directions, say a retired civil servant up to 63 years of age can be re-employed. And the same has also been introduced for the appointment of retired civil servants in the Punjab Public Service Commission.

Many re-employed retired officials were removed from service by the federal, Sindh and Punjab governments in the light of the Supreme Court decision.

The re-employment policy says that a retired civil servant can be re-employed on a seat only when he or she does not block the promotion of those junior to the post, and that when no one else of the required caliber is available in the service.

The Contract Appointment Policy says that the government can hire on contract any person only after advertising a post. And the incumbent can be selected after a competition and by a selection board or committee.

As per the Pension Rules, sources say, the re-employed person can only enjoy the salary equivalent to his or her last salary in regular service.