Legal Case Summary

Case Details
Case ID 43ab2491-2e2f-48a8-9b02-5825e6891db1
Body View case body.
Case Number Civil Petition No. 2602 of 2019
Decision Date Oct 05, 2022
Hearing Date Oct 05, 2022
Decision The Supreme Court dismissed the civil petition for leave to appeal, affirming the judgment of the Federal Service Tribunal which had upheld the dismissal of the petitioner, Allah Ditta, from service for misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs. 17,43,591. The Court found that the inquiry was conducted fairly and that the petitioner had been given ample opportunity to defend himself. The Court ruled that the gravity of the misconduct warranted dismissal, rejecting claims for leniency based on the petitioner's long service or the refund of the misappropriated amount. The decision reinforced that embezzlement of public money is a serious offense that cannot be treated lightly, and the role of the competent authority in imposing punishment should be respected unless proven otherwise unreasonable or unlawful.
Summary This case revolves around Allah Ditta, a civil servant who was dismissed for misappropriating public funds while serving as a Postmaster. The Supreme Court of Pakistan reviewed the case after the petitioner appealed against the Federal Service Tribunal's decision that upheld his dismissal. The key issues involved allegations of fraud, misconduct, and the appropriate level of punishment for such actions. The Court emphasized the importance of accountability in public service and established that long service or restitution of funds does not mitigate serious misconduct. This ruling serves as a precedent for similar cases of fraud in civil service, highlighting the need for strict adherence to rules governing public servants, and ensuring that such behavior is met with appropriate disciplinary action to maintain public trust in governmental institutions.
Court Supreme Court of Pakistan
Entities Involved Not available
Judges Sardar Tariq Masood, Amin-ud-Din Khan, Muhammad Ali Mazhar
Lawyers Ch. Afrasiab Khan
Petitioners ALLAH DITTA
Respondents DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL (ADMN.), OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, NORTHERN PUNJAB CIRCLE, RAWALPINDI
Citations 2023 SLD 592, 2023 SCMR 770
Other Citations PLD 2019 SC 189
Laws Involved Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973
Sections Not available