Explain state of OSD officials: HC
The High Court yesterday directed the government to submit a report before it within eight weeks on how many officials were made officer on special duty (OSD) in public administration in last 10 years.
In response to a writ petition, the court asked the public administration secretary to mention in the report the tenures of keeping the officials as OSD in last 10 years and how much money was paid for them during that period.
The court in a rule also asked the secretary to explain in eight weeks why the government action keeping the officials OSD for unlimited period without specific reasons and spending state money for paying their salaries should not be declared illegal.
In the rule, the court also asked the secretary to explain why the government should not be directed to make a guideline on keeping the public servants OSD.
The HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by former secretary Mohammad Asafuddowla challenging the existing system of keeping officials OSD without any reason for unlimited period.
During hearing, petitioner's counsel Aneek R Haque told the court that paying salaries to the OSD officers are unconstitutional, since no body can enjoy unearned money as per the article 20(2) of the constitution.
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