Regular Appointment Under Rule 17 A

The government of the Punjab Services & General Administration Department (regulations wing) has issued the notification regarding the regularization of employees recruited under rule 17-A  and their regular appointment under rule 17 A vide order No No.SOR-III(S&GAD)2-B/2018 dated Lahore the 19th January 2021. Previously, Departments recruiting manpower under this rule on a contract basis.

REGULARIZATION OF CONTRACT EMPLOYEES RECRUITED UNDER RULE 17-A

S&GAd circular letter of even number dated 29.10.2019 regarding appointments under Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974 on regular basis. Regulations Wing, S&GAD’s in the above mentioned circular letter dated 29.10.2019, all the employees appointed in terms of Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment & Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974, allowed to be made on regular basis.   Accordingly, it had been construed that the said direction was to be implemented prospectively.

However, This was challenged in Lahore High Court. Lahore High court in writ petition even number ordered the services of employees on regular basis with effect from the initial date of joinig. Inclusion, by the direction of Hon’ble Court, dated 15.10.2020, the Regulations Wing, S&GAD prepared a summary for the Chief Minister. In this regard, a circular letter may be issued with the direction to the departments to regularize the services of contract employees recruited under Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974 from the date of their initial appointment or Induction into government service.

However, on the direction of the Chief Minister, Punjab the matter was placed before the Provincial Cabinet which in its 39h meeting persisted 17.12.2020 considered the difficulty and decided as under:-

“The Cabinet considered and approved the regularization of contract employees recruited under Rule 17.1 of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974 from the date of their initial appointment / Induction into government service, as per judgment of Lahore High Court, subject to recovery of 30% Social Security Benefit according to the mechanism framed by Finance Department.”

Accordingly, all the executive Departments are requested to regularize the services of in-service contract employees who were recruited under Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974 from the date of their initial recruitment/date of induction into government service, subject to recovery of 30% Social Security Benefit (SSB) according to the mechanism delineated by the Finance Department vide its circular letter No.FD-SR-111-4-13/84, dated 24.03.1987. If any confusion arises thereon score, the Finance Department could also be consulted.