Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 20: The High Court has debarred Managing Director and Executive Engineer Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (KPDCL) from withdrawing their salary for two months.
The directions were passed by Justice Sanjeev Kumar in contempt proceedings that have been drawn on account of the failure of payment of the outstanding amount of Rs 22,91,083 towards a contractor who has executed work years before.
The controversy dates back to 2020 with petitioner approaching the court claiming that he was allotted a contract of painting ST Poles and that he executed the work to the satisfaction of the department during the financial year 2018-2019.
An amount of Rs 22,91,083 had incurred on execution of the work and the department had not disputed petitioners claim in the court. Accordingly, the court had given 6 weeks time to the department to release the billed amount to the petitioner.
On the failure of the department to release the admitted liability, the petitioner filed contempt petition and many orders came to be passed including the order dated 22-03-2022 wherein department was granted three weeks time to make payment failing which, the court had said, the Managing Director shall appear in person along with cheque so that the petitioner is paid payment in court.
However, in total disregard to court orders, the payment continues to be withheld. The Executive Engineer, instead of Managing Director, appeared before court on April 19, instantly drawing flack from the Judge.
For want of Managing Director, the court stopped short of sending Executive Engineer back. The Engineer eventually got audience of the court. He sought minimum two months time to complete formalities of disbursement of the admitted amount in favour of the petitioner.
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