SC rejects plea to repatriate traffic wardens to district police cadre

ISLAMABAD, Oct 06 (APP): The Supreme Court (SC) has held that personnel permanently absorbed into the Punjab Police Traffic Wardens Service Cadre cannot be sent back to the General District Police Cadre, stressing that police authorities must ensure compliance with rules and regulations in administrative matters.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui dismissed a civil petition challenging the retention of Punjab traffic wardens in their service cadre and upheld the Punjab Service Tribunal’s judgment.

In its detailed judgment, the court observed that a separate cadre had been created for the Traffic Police under a 1995 standing order, under which the concerned personnel were permanently absorbed into the Traffic Wardens Service Cadre. Their service was subsequently regulated under the Punjab Police Traffic Wardens Service Rules, 2017.

The court noted that the personnel had served in the Traffic Wardens Service Cadre for a considerable period and had undergone various traffic-related training courses. Their repatriation to the General District Police Cadre was therefore unjustified.

The Supreme Court observed that disregard of rules and regulations by institutions and departments contributed to unnecessary litigation. It said that where the same administrative process repeatedly resulted in complaints, litigation or judicial intervention, the department should identify and rectify shortcomings in its rules, implementation or administrative procedures.

The court further held that judicial proceedings were meant to correct unlawful administrative actions and should not become a permanent mechanism for running routine administrative affairs.

The Supreme Court dismissed the Punjab Police’s civil petition and declined to interfere with the Punjab Service Tribunal’s December 20, 2024 judgment.