Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 29: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today stayed the transfer order of Chief Town Planner Kashmir, who was recently transferred by the Government.
Justice Hasnain Masoodi directed that order impugned shall not be acted upon to the extent it relates to petitioner till next date of hearing before the bench.
Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, Iftikhar Ahmad Hakim was recently transferred by the Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department vide order no: 177-HUD of dated May 23, 2014 and in terms of Rule 27 of J&K Civil Services Rules 1956 as incharge Chief Town Planner, Srinagar Development Authority.
According to the plea of the Government the petitioner, a member of Town Planning (Gazetted) Service can be transferred within Cadre (Town Planning Gazetted) Serivce and not against a post which is not a part of the Cadre that too in SDA.
Shabir Naik AAG and Javed Kawoosa (senior AAG) entered appearance on behalf of respondents and they have been directed to file their reply to the matter by June 5.
Altaf Haqani, advocate for the petitioner, stated the Commissioner Secretary to Government Housing and Urban Development Department lacks its authority to upgrade post of Senior Town Planner in Srinagar Development Authority to the level of Chief Town Planner as has been done vide impugned transfer order.
The transfer of the planner had created controversy as he was purportedly acting as a hurdle for land mafia to raise illegal hotels in tourist resorts of Pahalgam and Gulmarg and was strictly following the orders of the High Court and recommendations of Environmental Impact Assessment.
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