Mazhar Ilyas Nagi and others V. Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and others,
PLC (C.S) 2018 99 · Balochistan High Court
This case involved a State Bank of Pakistan officer, Mazhar Ilyas Nagi, who had served the Bank since 1975. In 1994, a major embezzlement was uncovered involving the then Chief Manager, who absconded. During the subsequent inquiry, the petitioner was issued a vague charge sheet and asked to respond, but when he sought to produce his own defence witnesses, the Inquiry Officer refused to summon them, assuring him informally that there was no solid evidence against him and that no defence was needed. Despite this assurance, the Inquiry Officer ultimately recommended serious penalties, including a permanent monthly salary deduction and denial of back benefits, based on findings of "contributory negligence." Notably, four other officers facing identical charges were exonerated, with their suspension periods treated as active duty.
The Balochistan High Court examined whether the State Bank, though governed by non-statutory staff regulations, could still be challenged through a constitutional petition, and found that it could, given its statutory establishment and public functions. On the merits, the Court held that the petitioner was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself, was misled by the Inquiry Officer's assurances, and was treated unequally compared to similarly placed colleagues. No finding had even been made on actual financial loss caused by his alleged negligence. The Court set aside the penalty as void from the start and allowed the petition, reinforcing that employees—even in institutions with non-statutory rules—are entitled to fair process and equal treatment.
یہ مقدمہ اسٹیٹ بینک آف پاکستان کے ایک افسر مظہر الیاس ناگی سے متعلق تھا، جو 1975 سے بینک میں خدمات انجام دے رہے تھے۔ 1994 میں ایک بڑی خرد برد کا انکشاف ہوا جس میں اس وقت کے چیف منیجر ملوث تھے اور وہ مفرور ہو گئے۔ اس کے بعد ہونے والی تحقیقات کے دوران درخواست گزار کو ایک مبہم چارج شیٹ جاری کی گئی اور جواب طلب کیا گیا، لیکن جب انہوں نے اپنی صفائی میں گواہ پیش کرنے کی کوشش کی تو انکوائری آفیسر نے انہیں طلب کرنے سے انکار کر دیا اور غیر رسمی طور پر یقین دہانی کرائی کہ ان کے خلاف کوئی ٹھوس ثبوت موجود نہیں اور دفاع کی ضرورت نہیں۔ اس یقین دہانی کے باوجود، انکوائری آفیسر نے بالآخر "معاون غفلت" کی بنیاد پر سخت سزاؤں کی سفارش کی، جن میں مستقل بنیادوں پر ماہانہ تنخواہ سے کٹوتی اور بقایا مراعات سے محرومی شامل تھی۔ قابلِ ذکر بات یہ ہے کہ اسی نوعیت کے الزامات کا سامنا کرنے والے چار دیگر افسران کو بری کر دیا گیا اور ان کی معطلی کی مدت کو فع