Find a Lawyer

Appeal No. SUK‑650 of 1981, heard on 1st March, 1982.

West Pakistan Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance (VI of 1968)‑

‑‑ S. 1 (4)‑Ambit of Ordinance‑Nationalised Bank‑Second Wage Commission for Banks and Financial Institutions giving its Award‑National Bank of Pakistan framing Staff Service Rules, 1980 in compliance with direction of Second Wage Commission Award‑Whether even after framing such Rules Bank employees fall within ambit of Ordinance‑No evidence in rebuttal or even denial of claim of being a workman being available on record, case remanded to Labour Court to decide such issue after giving oppor tunity to both parties to lead evidence.

National Bank of Pakistan v. Nizamuddin Mehar 1980 P L C 1118 ref.

Azizullah Shaikh for Appellant.

Nizamuddin Baloch for Respondent.

Date of hearing: 1st March, 1982.

This appeal is directed against the decision of the learned VIIth Labour Court, given on 5th November, 1981, dismissing the grievance petition of the appellant on the basis of the decision of this Tribunal in the case of Abdul Aziz v. National Bank of Pakistan. (Appeal No. HYD‑18/79).

2. The facts of this case shortly stated are that the appellant, who was appointed as Senior Head Cashier at the Zonal Office, Sukkur, was placed under suspension, vide order, dated 26th December, 1977, on he basis of certain banking irregularities committed by him while he was Senior Head Cashier at Garhi Yaseen Branch. He was subsequently issued a charge‑sheet, dated 20th February, 1979, 3rd March, 1979, and a further charge‑sheet, dated 23rd April, 1979, indicating malpractices in the course of his official duties.. The appellant submitted explanations to the 2 charge‑sheets but as they were not found satisfactory, a domes tic enquiry was ordered and Mr. A.R. Abani, Assistant Vice‑President, Main Branch, National Bank of Pakistan, Karachi, was appointed as the enquiry Officer. On the basis of the Enquiry Officer's report, the compe tent authority in the respondent bank dismissed the appellant from service with immediate effect vide office order, dated 29th January, 1981. The appellant submitted an appeal to the President of the bank against' his dismissal from service, but the appeal was unsuccessful. The appellant accordingly filed a grievance petition before the learned Labour Court, which has dismissed the same by a short order on the ground that it had no jurisdiction in the matter.

3. Mr. Azizullah Sheikh has sought to assail the impugned decision of the learned Labour Court on the basis of the decision of this Tribunal in the case of National Bank of Pakistan v. Nizamuddin Mehar (1980 P L C 1118). In the reported case, it was held that the Discipline Rules framed by the Wage Commission for the banks and financial institutions could not be construed as statutory rules so as to exclude employees of nationalized banks from the purview of the Standing Orders and the jurisdiction of the Labour Courts. The dismissal orders in respect of the appellant, however, were passed after the Second Wage Commission had given its Award and in compliance with the directions in the said Award, the National Bank of Pakistan (Staff) Service Rule, 1980, were framed by the respondent bank. Even the enquiry appears to have been held against the appellant after the Second Wage Commission had given its award and the 19250 Service Rules had become applicable as these. A Rules are stated to have taken effect from 1st January, 1980, while the enquiry was held after 19th February, 1980. The question thus which has to be considered is to what is the effect of the Second Wage Commission award and the framing of the new Rules.

4. There is, however, an additional issue involved which has nor been considered by the learned Labour Court. It is contended by Mr. Nizamuddin Baloch that as the appellant admittedly was employed as Senior Head Cashier at the relevant time, he was an officer of the bank and not a workman as defined in the Standing Orders. On the other hand, it was contended by Mr. Azizullah Sheikh that though the appellant was designated as Senior Head Cashier, he was posted in the main Zonal Office at Sukkur and the nature of his duties was mainly clerical. The learned counsel also relied upon the assertion made by the appellant in paragraph 10 of his grievance petition where be ha claimed that he was a workman under the law. As the grievance petition of the appellant was dismissed without even issue of notice to the respondent bank, there has been no evidence in rebuttal or eve denial of the claim of the appellant that he was a workman for the purpose of the Standing Orders. It is settled law that designation of a employee is not the deciding factor whether he is a workman or not, but the determining factor is the nature of his duties. Irrespective o what may be the designation of the post, which an employee was holding, if he is employed to do work, which is clerical or manual, or his mat duties arc of clerical and manual nature, he would be deemed to be workman and would be entitled, subject to any exception in this behalf under the law to file a grievance petition against the termination of hi services. Since there is no evidence recorded in this case as to the nature of the duties which the appellant was employed to do or required to perform, I would remand the case to the learned Labour Court for giving an opportunity to both parties to lead evidence of the point as to what was the nature of duties which the appellant was employed or required to perform. The learned Labour Court should give priority to this case and ensure that the evidence is recorded as early as possible.

Case remanded.

Find a Lawyer Near You

Dealing with a matter like this? Connect with a verified advocate in your city — free on SJP Lawyers Directory.