HYDERABAD, May 7: Sindh Health Secretary Ashiq Hussain Memon and medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital Hyderabad, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi have defended sacking of 34 former employees of the hospital.

They filed para-wise comments before the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Friday in response to a petition filed by sacked workers. The secretary stated that they were appointed when a proposal of then MS for formation of selection committees under the Sindh Civil Servants (appointment, promotion and transfer) Rules 1974 was still in pending.

Mr Memon referred to a fact-finding report of a two-member committee and said irregularities were committed by or with order of then MS, Dr Shafqat Memon. The report quoted statements of Aslam Masih, Bashir Masih, Samuel, candidates for sanitary workers posts. They alleged that since they failed to pay money to then MS, they were denied jobs.

The secretary said that eligible candidates were deprived of their right to get job as envisaged under article 18 of the Constitution. The MS said that petitioners were on probation and their services could be terminated without notice under section 11 of the Sindh Civil Servant Act 1973.

He said that appointments were politically motivated as candidates had been selected from a particular area. He said that the health secretary had not issued any written permission for appointments and by appointment of two member selection committee then MS violated clause 5(2), requiring constitution of 3-member selection committee.

He said that no notice was required to terminate their services under section 11 of SCSA 1973. He informed that even offer letters clearly indicated that during probationary period services could be terminated without assigning any reason thus his action of sacking the employees was legal.

He said that offer letters were issued due to political pressure and petitioners services stood terminated from April 9. He prayed the court to dismiss the petition filed by sacked workers. The case was adjourned till May 12.