Karachi: Sindh High Court (SHC) Constitutional bench has ordered an immediate stop to deductions from the salaries and pensions of government teachers in Sindh.

The court while stopping finance department and others from initiating further proceedings has issued stay order till next hearing.

The court has issued notices to education department and other respondents.

The petition against the abolition of time scale of the teachers and withdrawal of additional perks and privileges came up for hearing in SHC.

The court ordered to club the petition with the already filed petitions.

The court directed no forced recovery be made from the salary and pension of the teachers till the next hearing.

Mukesh Kumar counsel for the petitioner argued the court has already issued order on the petition of this nature. The court order has been misinterpreted.

The counsel said the petitioners are serving and retired teachers in education department. The petitioners belong to cadre of drawing teachers, physical training instructors and workshop instructors. The concerned teachers were given promotion and upgradation during service as per rules and regulations.

Advocate Mukehs Kumar argued salaries were paid from grade 15 to grade 20 as per time scale policy of government of Sindh.

Finance department wrote a letter on January 21. The order was given through the letter to terminate the benefits of the time scale forthwith. Finance department issued directives for return of additional payments.

According to counsel for the petitioners School education department too issued letter for implementation after issuance of letter. Deduction in the salaries and return of additional payments is illegal. Several teachers have been retired.