Law Department
Overview
Law Department was established in the year 2009. The core function of Law Department is to provide legal advice and guidance to different departments of PEF. While performing routine operations, PEF faced with legal issues which require advice from Legal Counsels for smooth and uninterrupted functioning of different departments. Legal team provides technical assistance/ advice for resolving legal matters.
In addition, Legal Team also provides support in drafting partnership agreements for schools, vetting and checking of important documents and render legal support to senior management in policy formulation. PEF has a dedicated legal team, working with full zest and devotion. Its hard work and proactive handling of cases, majority of cases are decided in favor of PEF.
Law Department is supervising all court cases and deputes its legal team to attend proceedings at different judicial and quasi-judicial forums such as Supreme Court, Civil & Session Courts, Ombudsman Punjab and benches of Lahore High Court to defend Foundation’s stance and its policies.
| NO. OF CASES DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF PEF DURING THE YEAR 2020 AND 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Cases Decided in 2020 | Cases Decided in 2021 (till 30.06.2021) |
| High Court | 47 | 12 |
| Civil Court | 10 | 07 |
| Ombudsman | 11 | 02 |
| Total | 68 | 21 |
DEVELOPMENT OF LAW DEPARTMENT’S SOPS
SOPs of Law Department were drafted for the first time for efficient and effective management of the department.
REVISION OF SOPS OF PEF PROGRAMS/DEPARTMENTS
PEF programs/department’s SOPs were also reviewed by Law department and recommendations were submitted to the committee. Feedback on SOPs of Books Distribution Cell, Communication Department and Internal Audit, developed for the first time, was given to align them with SOPs of other departments.
UNIFIED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
Unified agreement for all three programs was drafted by Law Department and same was presented in 28th Program Committee Meeting held on 31st August 2021 for review. Program committee after deliberation proposed certain changes in draft agreement. Accordingly, the amended Unified Agreement was presented before Board of Directors in its 76th Meeting for consideration. Board of Directors accorded approval to this Uniform agreement for all three programs.
GUIDELINES OF STAFF FOR CHILD PROTECTION AGAINST CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, HARASSMENT IN PEF SCHOOLS
PEF observes zero tolerance policy against harassment, including sexual harassment and takes appropriate and immediate action in response to a complaint on reporting of any violation. To create awareness among students in PEF schools about their rights and to protect students and teachers from Sexual harassment, Law Department has developed guidelines and content (posters and pamphlets) for PEF partner schools and also helped in devising a comprehensive child protection policy.
Punjab Education Foundation has also constituted an Inquiry Committee in pursuance of “Protection against Harassment of Women at the Work Place Act, 2010” to deal with such complaints. Aggrieved employees of the Foundation can file a complaint against any offender before the said Committee or approach Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment Government of Pakistan to take action in line with the above mentioned act.