Ombudsman reinstates teacher infected with Hepatitis B

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Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Ombudsman reinstates teacher infected with Hepatitis B

Staff ReportLAHORE: The Education Department has reinstated a teacher who was suspended after having contracted Hepatitis B and has also paid his withheld salary, on the orders of Punjab Ombudsman Abdur Rashid Khan.The ombudsman also criticised the department’s “misadministration” for cancelling the appointment of the teacher, Tariq Azeem, “without giving him a fair chance of being treated for his disease”.Azeem lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman’s Secretariat saying that he had been appointed senior elementary school educator (SESE) in the Green Town Government High School in Lahore Cantt in November 2004. He was sent to Services Hospital for routine medical examination, where he was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. The hospital’s medical superintendent (MS) deferred issuing a fitness certificate to him and asked him to seek a re-evaluation after six months, he said.He said that the school’s headmaster forbade him from marking his presence in the attendance register from February 2, 2005 because he had been unable to obtain the fitness certificate. He said that he asked the headmaster and the Education Department to issue a written order in this regard, but they did not comply. Azeem said that he underwent medical treatment for hepatitis for five months and approached the Services Hospital for a medical exam. However, the hospital authorities told him to apply through the Education Department. He contacted the district officer-Male Elementary Education (DO-MEE) and the executive district officer (EDO) (Education), but they refused to refer him for re-examination.He requested the ombudsman to order his reinstatement and the release of his withheld pay for the period between November 2004 and February 2005. In his response, the Lahore Cantt Education DO (MEE) told the ombudsman that Azeem was obligated to present his fitness certificate to the school within two months of his appointment, and failure to do so had caused his contract to become invalid. The ombudsman said in his decision that the initial six-month deferral by the MS showed that the “disease was treatable and that Azeem was not found unfit for appointment”.He ordered the Cantt DO (MEE) to refer Azeem to the Services Hospital MS for re-examination and allow him to resume his duty if declared medically fit. He also ordered that Azeem be paid for the time that he taught at the school.In his compliance report, the Cantt DO (MEE) told the MS that Azeem had been declared fit in the re-examination, and had rejoined the school. His withheld salary amounting to Rs 14,496 had also been paid to him, he said.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C05%5C17%5Cstory_17-5-2006_pg7_41