Ombudsman Punjab Maj (r) Azam Suleman Khan has directed that the government departments should depute efficient and responsible officials to guide and assist the heirs of deceased employees for saving them from avoidable tribulations in receiving emoluments. Any negligence in paying dues to the heirs of deceased employees and non-settlement of such matters, year after year, is sheer maladministration, he noted.
He issued this directive in the case of Iqra Sharif of Sheikhupura who complained about the non-payment of dues of her late sister for six long years that included financial assistance, a funeral grant, four months’ salary and group insurance. The ombudsman termed non-payment of dues as serious mismanagement by the Sheikhupura education department, which is punishable under Section 2 (2) of the Office of the Ombudsman of Punjab Act, 1997.
After the involvement of the ombudsman office, the district education authority Sheikhupura paid long-awaited dues to the applicant.
Two junior clerks namely Ghulam Abbas and Mohammad Sajid have been sentenced along with the forfeit of one year increment and they have also been transferred. Waheed Ahmad, a senior clerk of deputy district education office Ferozewala has also been sentenced to forfeiture of one year increment. In addition, a joint case has been sent to the secretary school education department for departmental action against two grade 19 and three grade 18 officers under the PEEDA Act, 2006.
