Said Akbar V. Gateron (Industries) Limited,
PLC 2011 159 · Balochistan High Court
This case involved a labour dispute between an employee, Said Akbar, and his employer, Gatron Industries Limited. When Akbar was hired, his appointment letter required him to work full-time for the company and barred him from taking up any other job, business, or profession during his employment. Despite this condition, Akbar took up work with another company, Ismail Industries, while still employed at Gatron. When this came to light, Gatron issued him a show-cause notice, conducted an inquiry, found the allegation of dual employment proven, and dismissed him.
Akbar challenged his dismissal, first through a grievance notice and then before the Labour Court, denying that he had worked for Ismail Industries. The Labour Court rejected his application and upheld the dismissal. He then appealed to the Labour Appellate Tribunal in Quetta.
The Tribunal dismissed the appeal. It held that since Akbar had voluntarily accepted the terms of his appointment, including the restriction against outside employment, he could not later argue that this condition was invalid or unenforceable. The Tribunal also found that this contractual condition did not violate any law, including the Industrial and Commercial Employment Standing Orders Ordinance, 1968. Therefore, his dismissal for violating the terms of his contract was justified, and the Labour Court's decision was upheld.
This case matters because it confirms that employees who accept specific contractual conditions, such as restrictions on outside employment, are bound by them, and violation of such agreed terms can justify dismissal.
یہ مقدمہ ایک ملازم، سعید اکبر، اور اس کے آجر، گیٹرون انڈسٹریز لمیٹڈ کے درمیان مزدور تنازعہ سے متعلق تھا۔ جب اکبر کو ملازمت پر رکھا گیا تھا تو اس کے تقرری نامے میں یہ شرط رکھی گئی تھی کہ وہ کمپنی کے لیے کل وقتی کام کرے گا اور اپنی ملازمت کے دوران کسی اور کام، کاروبار یا پیشے سے وابستہ نہیں ہوگا۔ اس شرط کے باوجود، اکبر نے گیٹرون میں ملازم رہتے ہوئے ایک اور کمپنی، اسماعیل انڈسٹریز، میں کام کرنا شروع کر دیا۔ جب یہ بات سامنے آئی تو گیٹرون نے اسے شوکاز نوٹس جاری کیا، انکوائری کی، دوہری ملازمت کے الزام کو ثابت پایا، اور اسے ملازمت سے برخاست کر دیا۔
اکبر نے اپنی برخاستگی کو چیلنج کیا، پہلے شکایتی نوٹس کے ذریعے اور پھر لیبر کورٹ میں، جہاں اس نے اسماعیل انڈسٹریز میں کام کرنے سے انکار کیا۔ لیبر کورٹ نے اس کی درخواست مسترد کر دی اور برخاستگی کو برقرار رکھا۔ اس کے بعد