SHC Rules Daily Wage and Temporary Service Must Count Toward Pension

In a landmark decision, the Sindh High Court has ruled that service carried out on a daily wage and temporary basis must be included when calculating pension benefits. The court declared previous orders issued by the Civil Aviation Authority that excluded such service as unlawful.

The ruling came during proceedings related to pension claims of retired Civil Aviation employees. The constitutional bench examined departmental policies that had denied workers the inclusion of their earlier service periods, significantly affecting their retirement benefits.

In its verdict, the court set aside the office orders that barred the counting of daily wage and temporary employment toward pension eligibility. It emphasized that such exclusions were not legally justified and undermined the rights of employees who had served in various capacities over the years.

The court also directed the relevant authorities to clear all pending dues owed to affected retirees within a period of two months. This directive is expected to bring relief to numerous employees who had long awaited fair recognition of their complete service records.

Legal experts view the judgment as a major step toward protecting workers’ rights, particularly those who begin their careers in non-permanent roles. By ensuring that all forms of service are acknowledged, the ruling sets a precedent that could influence similar cases across Sindh and potentially other provinces.

The decision reinforces the judiciary’s role in upholding fairness in employment practices and highlights the importance of equitable pension policies. For many workers, this judgment represents not just financial relief but also recognition of their years of contribution.