ISLAMABAD: Fida Hussain, a Pakistan Customs Service officer of BS-16, has been given major penalty of ‘compulsory retirement from service’ for misconduct.
The disciplinary proceedings initiated against the officer, last posted as Appraising at Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement-East, Karachi, under Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973.
Dr Shahab Imam, the then Deputy Collector, MCC Appraisement-East, Karachi, was appointed as inquiry officer to probe into the allegations constituting “misconduct”. The officer [Fida Hussain] was granted 60 days leave ex-Pakistan. The officer proceeded for UK from March 08, 2013 and was required to join back duties on May 7, 2013 but instead of joining, he applied for extension in leave ex-Pakistan for further 60 days. However, the same was regretted by the Board vide letter C.No.7(9)Cus-III/2011 dated 3rd June, 2013.
Fida was informed about the decision of the Board vide Collectorate letter PF.No.2(136)/2006 dated 10th June, 2013 followed by a reminder dated 4th September, 2013, wherein he was advised to report back to his duties but failed to comply with the orders. So he has been absconding from his duties since May 7, 2013, without any approval of the competent authority.
The inquiry officer served him several notices to submit his defence reply and to appear for personal hearing, however, the accused did not participate in the inquiry proceeding. The accused was again directed by FBR vide letter dated 19.02.2015 to resume duty and participate in the inquiry proceeding but he failed to do so. Therefore, a show-cause notice was issued to the accused officer and he was also called to appear for personal hearing before the authorised officer on May 25, 2015. Instead, he again failed to obey the direction and requested for further extension in leave which had already been refused.
After considering the charges framed in the charge sheet and other available record, the accused officer has been found guilty of “misconduct” under Rule 2(4) to be read with Rule 3(b) of the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973.
The Member (Admn), being authority in this case, after having considered all aspects of the case and recommendations of the authorised officer, imposed the major penalty of “compulsory retirement from service” upon Fida Hussain under rule 4(1)(b)(ii) of the Govt Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973 with immediate effect. His unauthorised absence from duty with effect from May 7, 2013 to date has been commuted into EOL (without pay & allowances).
