Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 8: High Court reprimanded the Tehsildar and Station House Officer for not issuing death certificate in favour of the petitioner and directed them issue the certificate or appear personally before the court on next date of hearing.
Justice Javed Iqbal Wani in the facts and circumstances of the case, said the court would have proceeded against the officers for such lackadaisical approach but in the interest of justice an opportunity is provided to them to issue death certificate of the husband of the petitioner within a week.
“In the event of failure of the respondents to comply with the order as directed above, SHO Police Station Mattan, as well as Tehsildar Mattan shall appear in person on the next date of hearing along with the relevant record of the case”, Justice Wani directed.
The grievance projected by the petitioner-Sharngat Kour in her plea court said, reflects very sorry state of affairs insofar as the working of the government officials is concerned particularly in the matter of issuance of death certificate in favour of dependents.
Even though many statutes and acts court added, are in place requiring the government servants to discharge their public duties well in time promptly with due diligence and without any delay, yet the instant case seemingly is a glaring example of callous and lackadaisical approach of the government servants being SHO Police Station Mattan and Tehsildar Mattan.
Petitioner-Kour projected before the court that upon death of her husband at Hutamarah Tehsil Mattan, District Anantnag, she applied before Tehsildar Mattan, for issuance of a death certificate of her husband which application is stated to have been forwarded by the Tehsildar to SHO Police Station, Mattan.
It is being stated in the that SHO concerned forwarded the same to the Numberdar/ Chowkidar for spot verification, which verification has been conducted and despite the fact that case of the petitioner for issuance of the said death certificate of her husband being complete in all respects, is not being issued till date.
It was being further stated that the said certificate is required by the petitioner in order to enable her to have the case settled before the competent authority for grant of family pension as the husband of the petitioner had been a government servant.