The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday upheld a government policy replacing free electricity units for power sector employees with cash payments, dismissing a petition challenging the move.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the court maintained the government notification issued on 5 December 2023, which introduced the monetisation of free electricity units for officers in grade 17 and above.
In its detailed judgement, the court ruled that free electricity units were not a permanent or legal right of employees but rather a service-related benefit. It stated that such privileges could be amended or withdrawn under administrative policy.
The court further observed that no violation of fundamental rights had been established. It noted that the petitioners failed to provide any legal basis to prove that free electricity units formed part of their salary.
The judgement stated that no law or rule guaranteed the provision of free units, describing the facility as an administrative concession. It added that changes in policy affecting different grades did not amount to discrimination, as officers in grade 17 and above belonged to a separate cadre and the policy was based on reasonable financial considerations.
The court also held that monetisation was a necessary step to ensure financial discipline and clarified that employees’ overall pay had not been reduced, as the benefit was being provided in the form of cash instead.
It further ruled that the judiciary could not interfere in financial and administrative decisions of the government, as such matters fall within the domain of the executive.
Justice Malik Javed Iqbal Wains issued the 14-page written judgement, rejecting claims of violations of Articles 4, 9 and 25 of the Constitution.
The petition had been filed by employees who challenged a decision of the federal cabinet’s energy committee, arguing that free electricity units were part of their salary. The court was assisted by Assistant Attorney General Malik Tanveer Ahmed Awan, representing the federation.