LHC reinstates Lahore General Hospital security guard dismissed over AC pipe theft

PakistanLHC reinstates Lahore General Hospital security guard dismissed over AC pipe theftBy Hamid Ur Rehman-Aug 22, 2026Add ARY News on Googleimage credit: facebookAAResizeLAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that a government employee cannot be subjected to a major penalty without a proper and lawful departmental inquiry, setting aside the dismissal of a security guard at Lahore General Hospital and ordering his reinstatement. Justice Malik Muhammad Awais Khalid issued the 11-page written judgment on a petition filed by security guard Shafiq Khushnood, holding that an employee facing serious allegations must be given a full and effective opportunity to defend himself. The petitioner had challenged his dismissal following departmental proceedings in which he was accused of stealing an air-conditioning pipe and remaining absent from duty. The court observed that when serious allegations are levelled against an employee, he must be given an opportunity to respond to the charges, produce witnesses in his defence and cross-examine prosecution witnesses. The judgment held that imposing a major penalty without completing a proper departmental inquiry was contrary to law. It noted that there was no valid or convincing reason on record for abandoning the inquiry in the present case. While examining the provisions of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, the court observed that “termination” is not prescribed as a penalty under the law. Major penalties under the PEEDA Act include dismissal, removal from service and compulsory retirement, but such penalties can only be imposed after following the procedure prescribed by law. Gujranwala: Hospital officials suspended after medicine theft The court made it clear that merely levelling allegations against an employee does not authorise an authority to remove him from service without following the prescribed legal procedure. It said the principles of natural justice and the employee’s...