Rules for Placement of Officials under Suspension

Under Rule 5 (i) of the Pakistan Wapda Employees (E&D) Rules 1978, it is the 'competent authority' (as defined under sub-rule (3) of rule 2 of the said Rules) who can require an accused to proceed on leave or suspend him where the accused is being proceeded against for subversion or corruption or misconduct, provided that any continuation of such leave or suspension shall require prior approval of the next higher authority after every 3 months.
It has been noticed that either approval of the next higher authority for continuation of suspension period beyond 3 months is not obtained in time or the competent authority which had initially ordered suspension, approves continuation of suspension beyond 3 months which is in violation of the above rule. All competent authorities should, therefore, ensure that enquiry cases in which an accused employee has been placed under suspension or has been allowed to proceed on leave, are finalized within 3 months. In case the enquiry proceedings are not finalized within the stipulated period, then approval of the next higher authority for continuation of suspension or leave beyond 3 months should be obtained well in advance, so that the enquiry proceedings are not challenged in a Court of Law for non-compliance of the provisions of the E&D Rules.