SHC reserves verdict on appeal against order suspending JPMC executive director’s extesion

The Sindh High Court on Thursday reserved its order on an appeal filed against a single bench order with regard to stay of extension of the executive director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

The single bench had earlier suspended the notification of an extension granted to the executive director of JPMC on a lawsuit of a plaintiff doctor who had challenged the extension of the JPMC executive director till his retirement on June 24, 2026.

Being aggrieved with the single bench order, appellant Shahid Rasool’s counsel submitted that the appellant was part of the JPMC since the beginning as the JPMC is a teaching hospital where the appellant performed surgery and also provided education to medical students.

He submitted that the impugned notification was continuation of a previous notification which was not challenged by the anyone, including the respondent. He said the impugned order was liable to be set aside as it was affecting the rights of the appellant as well as working of the JPMC. A provincial law officer also supported the notification with regard to the extension of the appellant.

The respondent’s counsel opposed the appeal, submitting that the new service structure has been made after the 18 the amendment and the respondent qualifies to the requirement being considered for the post of the executive director but finds herself not liable to be considered on account of extension of the executive director of the JPMC till his retirement.

The counsel said the appellant was earlier taken in on deputation in 2021; however, the same expired and he was earlier holding the post in Jinnah Sindh Medical University. The counsel argued that the Sindh government was not empowered to make an appointment being the owner of the JPMC as held by the Supreme Court and even the working understanding agreed to between the parties provided for the post to be considered from officials of the JPMC itself. A high court division bench headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, after hearing the arguments of the counsel, reserved the order on the appeal.