LAHORE
The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the federal law ministry to make all insurance tribunals in the Punjab province functional within three months or face contempt of court proceedings.
Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued the order on petitions questioning unavailability of the insurance tribunals in the province for the last 17 years.
The petitioners' counsel argued before that Insurance Ordinance 2000 required the federal government to constitute insurance tribunal(s) to decide disputes regarding claims of insurance. The chief justice expressed his concern when the counsel pointed out that the insurance tribunals had not been made functional for the last 17 years. An assistant attorney general told the court that one additional district & sessions judge in each district headquarters of the province had been given additional powers of the insurance tribunal.
The law officer said at least four-month time would be required to make the permanent tribunals functional. However, the chief justice directed the law ministry to constitute permanent insurance tribunals in the province within three months or be ready to face contempt proceedings. The CJ adjourned hearing until 22nd of August.
Notices: Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the provincial government and Punjab curriculum textbook board in a petition against alleged malpractices of the board in awarding contract to its own agencies and excluding the publishers from the development and publication of textbooks of class v, vi and vii.
The judge sought reply from both the respondents within two weeks. The petition moved on behalf of a publisher.
The petitioner's counsel Sheraz Zaka alleged that the board awarded contract to its own agencies and registered publishers in violation of Punjab procurement rules 2014 regarding printing of textbooks of class v, vi and vii. He contended that by awarding contract to its own agencies and registered publishers in the printing of books was resulting in availability of textbooks at higher prices.
He said had public procurement rules 2014 been followed the contract for books printing would have been awarded to the lowest bidder in free competitive bid. He submitted that they had violated the Punjab procurement rules 2014 regarding printing of books by awarding work to its own registered publishers instead of floating a tender through open advertisement of printing of these textbooks.
He said that in future textbooks of class v, vi and vii would be available at high prices which would make education out of reach of the common man. He said that according to national curriculum textbooks and learning materials policy action and plan 2007 it was decided by the federal government that every possible step would be taken to make textbooks available at cheaper prices.
He asserted that according to national curriculum textbooks and learning materials policy action and plan 2007 it was decided by the federal government that every possible step would be taken to make textbooks available at cheaper prices. He requested to declare the awarding of contract to Textbook Board's own agencies and excluding the publishers from the development and publication of textbooks null and void.
