ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday suspended the posting orders of over 1,000 female teachers being repatriated to their parent department apparently in violation of the wedlock policy.

The court expressed displeasure over the FDE director legal for not assisting the court in a proper manner and summoned the Federal Directorate of Education director general on March 9.

The FDE on Dec 11, 2020 posted female teachers to their provincial educational departments.

The teachers filed the petitions before the IHC saying that under the wedlock policy, the female government employee could not be posted to the station other than of her spouse.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that prima facie the decision for sending female teachers to their native towns was not sustainable.

He expressed the hope that the teachers, currently becoming shuttlecock between the FDE and the parent departments, may rejoin their schools from Thursday (today).

Justice Minallah remarked that the arbitrary decisions of the FDE led the female teachers to stage the protest. He wondered as to why the FDE issued repatriation orders of teachers working in Islamabad since 2006.

Earlier, last month, the court granted stay order in the matter related to repatriation of the teachers and observed that apparently the teachers have been transferred in contradiction to the wedlock policy.

The petitioners FDE teachers asserted that they had been working to the satisfaction of the competent authority for long. Some have been working since 2006 and the competent authority from time to time extended the period of deputation.

“The impugned orders clearly show that the wedlock policy was not considered. The impugned orders further show that in each individual case, the facts and circumstances were not taken into consideration,” the court noted.

The court had sought explanation from the Deputy Attorney General “the wisdom behind filling the posts yet again through transfer on the basis of deputation.”

Counsel for petitioners adopted before the court that male and female teachers serving in Islamabad for 15 to 20 years but no one raised any objection over their performance.

On the other hand constitution guarantees for the protection of rights of women and children. Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till March 09.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2021