ABDUL RAHMAN QURESHI vs AUDITOR-GENERAL OF PAKISTAN and others
The petitioner, a former employee, challenged orders passed by the Federal Service Tribunal regarding his pension and increment claims. Initially, the Tribunal partially accepted his appeal in 2003, rejecting his claim for an additional increment but protecting payments already received. Subsequently, the petitioner filed multiple review applications. In 2004, the Tribunal disposed of a review application after the respondent-department implemented the judgment. Later, in 2010, the Tribunal dismissed a second review application, noting that the original judgment had been fully implemented. The petitioner sought leave to appeal against this dismissal. The Supreme Court observed that the Tribunal lacked the power of review and that the petitioner had previously conceded before the Tribunal that his grievances were redressed and the judgment implemented. Finding no question of law of public importance under Article 212(3) of the Constitution, the Court held that the petition was meritless. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition for leave to appeal, affirming that the matter had attained finality and no further agitation was maintainable.
- Does the Federal Service Tribunal possess the power of review regarding its own decisions?
- Can a petitioner agitate a grievance before the Supreme Court after conceding before the Tribunal that the judgment has been fully implemented?
- What constitutes a question of law of public importance under Article 212(3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973?
- Article 212(3), Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973
ORDER
' MUHAMMAD SAIR ALI, J.--- Petitioner's Appeal No,540(L)CS of 2000 was decided by the Federal Service Tribunal, Lahore (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') on 3-12-2003. His claim that he should have been allowed one increment on getting selection grade and for revision of his pension accordingly was rejected. However, the amount already paid to him was protected by the Tribunal because the payment so made was due to the error of the respondent-department. In view thereof, the appeal was partly accepted in the following manner:-- "The result is that the appeal is accepted partly. The claim of the appellant for restoration of his pay slip in which he had been allowed advance increment is rejected. His second prayer that no recovery should be effected from him is allowed. This order would be effective only if payments have already been received by the appellant. The appellant shall be paid monthly pension on the basis of PPO dated 23-8-1999."
' In the year 2004, the petitioner filed a review application to get rectification of the order regarding PPO dated 23-8-1999. The Tribunal, accommodating the petitioner, treated the said review application as M. P. No,725 of 2004 and decided the same as under:-- "The respondents have submitted a bill of commutation of pension arrears and also approval for payment of commutation and gratuity regarding the grievance in the cause and also a letter dated 2-6-2006 stating that the petition has borne fruit and the judgment stands implemented in to. The learned counsel for the appellant has no further cause of grievance. Petition disposed of having borne fruit."
' The petitioner moved yet another review application, which again was treated as M. P. No,379 of 2008. The Tribunal disposed of the said M.P. By holding that the judgment of the Tribunal had already been implemented. This order was passed on 29-1-2010 and forms the subject matter of the present petition for leave to appeal.
2. The petitioner is present in person. The learned Deputy Attorney-General, in response to the notice is also present and has assisted the Court. The learned DAG took us through the record to show that the judgment of the Tribunal dated 3-12-2003 had been duly implemented and had attained finality. Further assured that petitioner's case had been duly considered by the department sympathetically and rectification, as sought, was made. In answer, the petitioner read out order dated 3-12-2003 and sought further change therein.
3. We are afraid, the Tribunal had no power of review. The petitioner had filed two review applications, on which the Tribunal accommodated him. The petitioner conceded that the judgment of the Tribunal dated 3-12-2003 had been duly implemented in toto and as such his grievance stood redressed. The petitioner was unable to show to us that his second review petition before the Tribunal was maintainable or that he had any grievance to agitate before this Court, after he had conceded in the Tribunal that the order stood implemented and his grievance fully redressed. We also find that no question of law of public importance within the contemplation of Article 212(3) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, arises in this petition.
5. For the foregoing reasons, the present CPLA is dismissed and leave to appeal in declined.
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