LHC sets precedent in ‘self-help’

Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Azmat Saeed has established a Lahore High Court Employees Welfare Fund on self help basis. Its aim is to share and minimize financial as well as social problems of regular employees and to stand with them in their moments of bliss and gloom. The fund has been established by way of monthly deduction of slim amount from the salaries of the LHC employees. The officers will share Rs 500 per month and staff Rs 300 p.m only from their salaries. Accountant General Punjab has been tasked to raise the fund. There are 1600 employees in the LHC and their contribution will amount to Rs 72 lac per year.
For effective and transparent use of the fund, a “Fund Management Board” will be constituted under the chairmanship of the registrar and will constitute the senior additional registrars, deputy registrars, assistant registrar and the head judgment writer.
Membership is compulsory for each and every serving regular employees of the LHC (Principal Seat) including those serving at three branches at Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur, however, contract employees, daily wagers and judicial officers posted in LHC will not be eligible for this fund. Major objectives of funds are:
On the sad incident of death of any official, a reasonable fixed amount out of the fund will be given to the family of the concerned employee. In addition to this all employees of the establishment will contribute their one day salary for the welfare of the bereaved family.
To share and shed burden of marriage expenses of official or his children, a gift, either in the shape of cash will be given to him. However, a window of loan will also be established in this regard and if any employee would be in need of financial assistance in excess of the fixed amount, especially for the marriage of daughter, he/she will be given certain amount of loan which he/she will have to refund/return through monthly instalments within a particular period.
A window of refundable loan for the members and their children will also be kept for education purpose and a reasonable amount be given to the children of the members having excellent academic career.
Loan will also be given to the employees for self-medical treatment as also for that of spouse and children suffering from fatal/life threatening diseases like cancer, cardiac disorders and Hepatitis C.
Some portion of the Fund is also for arranging send off/fare-well party and presentation of souvenir to an officer/official on his retirement. For this purpose, an annual lunch will be arranged in the last week of December, every year.
Loan on refundable basis may also be given to employees for purchase of plot/construction of house.
All Hajj/Umrah expenses of two employees will be borne out of this fund, one each from gazetted and non-gazzeted cadres to be selected every year through balloting. The amount collected from the minorities will be used for their religious affairs.
Supreme Current Bank account will be opened in one of the scheduled banks with the title LHC Employees Welfare Fund to be operated jointly by senior most officials.