PHC suspends transfer order of BISE Kohat’s exams controller

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday suspended the transfer order of the controller of examinations of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Kohat.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Anwar and Justice Khurshid Iqbal while hearing the petition also issued notices to the controlling authority, the secretary of Elementary Education, secretary of Higher Education, and the newly appointed controller in this regard.

Petitioner’s lawyer Khalid Rahman Advocate informed the court that his client Malik Maqsood Anwar was an assistant professor in Grade-18 in the Higher Education Department. He was appointed as the Controller of Examinations of Kohat Board on June 8, 2022, for a period of three years and had been diligently performing his duties.

The lawyer argued that on March 14, his client was sent back to his parent department, and Principal Rohullah Jan was appointed as the new controller, which was not justified. He pleaded that the annual matriculation exams were set to begin on April 8, with more than 100,000 students participating, and over 70 exam papers had already been prepared under his client’s supervision.

He contended that transferring his client at such a critical stage was inappropriate, as the examination process was highly sensitive and was being managed under his supervision. The lawyer also cited multiple rulings of the higher judiciary, which established that a government employee on deputation cannot be transferred before completing their tenure. He alleged that political factors were behind his client’s transfer.

He also said the provincial government had allowed the controller of examinations of Abbottabad Board to continue his work even after completing his tenure due to the ongoing examinations, his client was removed from his post on political grounds, despite having three months of his tenure remaining.After arguments, the court suspended the transfer order and issued notices to the relevant officials.