THE PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN And Others vs Brig. (Rtd.) ABDUL RASHID
This matter comes before the Supreme Court of Pakistan upon a petition for leave to appeal filed by the President of Pakistan and others against Brig. (Rtd.) Abdul Rashid. The core legal questions involve determining whether a civil servant proceeding on leave with pay is entitled to full pay during leave based on increments and revisions of pay scales arising from enforcement of new schemes, whether the Service Tribunal was competent to hold that Fundamental Rule 17 and the Revised Leave Rules 1980 were overridden by para 27 of the Basic Pay Scales and Fringe Benefits scheme of 1983, whether Section 17 of the Civil Servants Act 1973 governs leave pay determinations, and whether the Service Tribunal erred in its construction of rule 32 of the Revised Leave Rules 1980. The Supreme Court held that the points raised are of considerable legal importance and granted leave to consider them, while directing that the appeal be heard on the existing record with liberty to file additional documents. The key principle laid down relates to the interpretation of statutory leave rules, pay scale revisions, and the jurisdictional limits of the Service Tribunal regarding rule interpretation.
- Whether a civil servant proceeding on leave with pay is entitled to full pay during leave sanctioned for the post as raised by increments and revision of pay scales?
- Is the Service Tribunal competent to hold that Fundamental Rule 17 and Revised Leave Rules 1980 have been overridden by subsequent pay scale schemes?
- Does section 17 of the Civil Servants Act 1973 cover the determination of leave pay for a civil servant?
- Whether the literal construction of rule 32 of the Revised Leave Rules 1980 can be extended by the Service Tribunal to give the benefit of pay enhancement to a civil servant on leave?
- Fundamental Rule 17
- Section 17, Civil Servants Act 1973
ORDER
MIAN BURHANUDDIN KHAN, J.--In this petition, among others the following points have been raised for determination before this Court (a) whether the finding of the Service Tribunal to the effect that a civil servant proceeding on leave with pay shall be entitled to get full pay during leave sanctioned for the post as raised, from time to time, on account of increment and revision of pay scales by enforcement of certain scheme, (b) whether the learned Tribunal is competent, to hold that Fundamental Rule 17 and Revised Leave Rules--1980 have been overridden by para. 27 of the scheme of Basic Pay Scales and Fringe Benefits of the Civil Employees of the Federal Government of 1983; (c) whether section 17 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973 covers the determination of the leave pay and as such a civil servant on leave with pay, is entitled to the pay sanctioned for a pose under section 17; and (d) whether sub-clauses (a) and (b) in rule 32 of Revised Leave Rules, 1980, admit of any ambiguity so that its literal construction tends to lead to repugnancy to good sense and the Service Tribunal was justified to construe the same to give them extended meaning so as to give benefit of the enhancement of pay to a civil servant who is on leave.
2. Contention of the learned counsel is that the learned Service Tribunal has in fact struck down the relevant rule which was beyond its jurisdiction and the interpretation /construction put by the learned Service Tribunal has rendered the entire rule 32 of the Revised Leave Rubs, 1980 nugatory/and whether such interpretation/construction is permissible under the law and whether the distinction drawn by the learned Service Tribunal regarding the phrase in accordance with the rules and used in section 17 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973 that it does not mean "subject to rules" is not too fine to stand judicial scrutiny.
3. The points raised are of legal importance. We, therefore, grant leave to consider the same. The appeal shall be heard on the present record with liberty to file additional documents, if so desired.
Application for stay to continue, was not contested.