PROVINCE OF PUNJAB through Secretary, Government of Punjab and others
This civil petition for leave to appeal arises from proceedings involving the Provincial Government and a respondent employee concerning service matters. The core legal questions relate to whether an appellate authority can accept a time-barred appeal without explicitly considering and condoning the delay, and whether a reporting officer holding dual charges or jurisdiction across multiple stations is legally competent to author an annual confidential report or conduct evaluation for the total working period exceeding three months. The Supreme Court of Pakistan held that these contentions raised by the Provincial Government require further consideration. Consequently, the Court granted leave or directed that the appeal be made ready on the existing record with liberty for parties to add further documents, scheduling the matter for an early hearing.
- Can an appellate authority accept a time-barred appeal without an express order condoning the delay?
- Is a reporting officer competent to report on the conduct of an employee when the working period across stations exceeds three months?
ORDER
1. ' NASIM HASAN SHAH, J.--It is contended by the learned counsel for the Provincial Government that:-
(i) The appeal filed by the respondent being time-barred could not be accepted without considering the question of limitation and condoning it by an express order;
(ii) The reporting officer of the respondent both at Mianwali and Kallar Kot being one and the same namely the Deputy Director (Food), Sargodha Region, Sargodha and the total working period at the above two stations of the respondent being more than three months, the aforesaid officer (Deputy Director Food) was competent to report on the working and conduct of the respondent.
2. These contentions require further consideration. .
3. ' The appeal shall be made ready on the present record, with liberty to the parties to add further documents, if any and put up for hearing at an early date.