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ISLAMABAD, Nov 11 (APP):The Supreme Court of Pakistan has set aside a decision of the Federal Service Tribunal (FST) that had granted additional increments to an officer of the Pakistan Railways Audit Department on the basis of an LLB degree.
According to the written judgment approved for reporting, a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi ruled that officers of the Audit Department do not fall within the scope of the “Incentive Scheme 1966,” and that the LLB degree cannot be treated as equivalent to a master’s degree under the “General Scheme 1996.”
The court observed that granting additional increments on the basis of an LLB degree is not permissible under either scheme; therefore, the decision of the Federal Service Tribunal could not be sustained. The judgment further noted that remanding a case should not be adopted as a routine practice and should only be exercised when required in the interest of justice. When the record is complete and facts are clear, the appellate court should decide the matter itself to avoid unnecessary delays, the court added.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that courts should refrain from unnecessary interference in administrative matters, as every institution has the constitutional authority to formulate its own policies. The court also reaffirmed that an LLB degree cannot be considered equivalent to a master’s degree, as established in earlier Supreme Court rulings.
It was informed that the railway officer had already received Rs75,000 as additional increments following the tribunal’s order. The Railways Department indicated it would not seek recovery of the amount. However, the court clarified that this decision would not serve as a precedent for other cases.
The Supreme Court accepted both constitutional petitions filed by the federation and dismissed the case.