SHC moved against appointment of SBCA DG

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the chief secretary, local government secretary and others on a petition against the appointment of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general.

M Tariq Mansoor said in his petition that the appointment of the SBCA DG, which is a technical post, has been made in violation of the criteria set for the appointment on the technical post.

Mansoor said that the respondent Abdul Rasheed Solangi has none of the required technical qualifications and education in accordance with the set criteria, adding that the appointment was made in violation of the SBCA’s rules and regulations.

He said that his petition pertains to public interest, and a matter relating to good governance has been raised to protect the rights of the citizens.

He requested the court to declare that the appointment of SBCA chief is unlawful and in violation of the SBCA’s regulations. He also requested to review and ensure that all appointments, either on technical or non-technical posts, as well as in the master plan department be made in accordance with the law.

After the preliminary hearing of the petition, an SHC division bench headed by Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry issued notices to the CS, the LG secretary and others, telling them to file their comments on September 12.

In another matter relating to the constitution of an oversee committee in the SBCA, the court directed the CS to file comments on the petition. A non-governmental organisation had approached the court for the constitution of a proper oversee committee under Section 4B of the building control law.

Their counsel said the SHC had also expressed concern over the non-functioning of the oversee committee in the SBCA, and the use of power by the SBCA DG as the authority.

He said the building control laws stipulates the oversee committee comprising technical experts, reputed town planners, concerned technical citizens and other relevant stakeholders, but the committee is not being constituted in letter and spirit.

The counsel requested the court to declare that the CS is bound to constitute an oversee committee in compliance with Section 4B of the buildings laws, and to restrain the SBCA from abolishing Section 4B from the building laws that provide the constitution of an oversee committee to monitor the SBCA’s performance and its building approval.