Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 30: High Court has warned of bailable warrants against higher officials of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department if they fail to remain present in person before the court.
The bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey sought personal appearance of Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineering, Kashmir, Srinagar, Executive Engineer, Water Works Division, Srinagar and Executive Engineer, Rural Water Supply Division, Ganderbal for not releasing the salary of employees of the department despite court directions.
“In the event the officers fail to appear before the Court on the next date, there shall be no option, available but to issue bailable warrants for seeking their appearance”, Justice Magrey clarified.
Petitioner-Ghulam Mustafa Sheikh has initiated contempt proceedings against these officials for not releasing his salary despite directions passed by the Court on September 29, 2018.
His salary was stopped on the pretext that his service book of from the office where he was working earlier is yet to be transferred by the concerned authorities to the Rural Water Supply Division Ganderbal.
It is stated by his counsel M A Beigh that the petitioner-Sheikh was transferred to the Rural Water Supply Division Ganderbal in the year 2001 and before that, the he was working in office of Executive Engineer Water Works Division Ganderbal, wherefrom he was relieved in terms of communication bearing No. 3776-79 dated 8 th August 2001.
Advocate Beigh further submitted that his salary was released up-to April 2017 on minimum grade and thereafter, his salary is withheld with no cause or justification. In order to settle the matter for ensuring release of salary in favour of the petitioner in tune with the directions passed by this Court, the petitioner-Sheikh has approached the court with instant contempt proceedings.
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