Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 24: The High Court today sought response from the Government while taking suo-moto cognizance of the money distributed by the Revenue officials in 2014 flood cases to those who were not entitled to it.
The Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Tashi Rabstan directed the Advocate General of the State D C Raina to file the response within four weeks to the directions which were passed by the Court on June 6 in relation to the case.
The issue pertained to disbursing the Government money by the Revenue officials in 2014 in Pahalgam to those persons who were not entitled for the same.
The Division Bench on June 6, in the first instance, directed for comprehensive report from the Chief Secretary with the observation that further course of action would be decided as and when such response and report is filed by the Chief Secretary.
“It needs to know and determine as to what course of action should be taken to retrieve the Government money disbursed to persons not entitled thereto, whether under the orders of the Civil Court or otherwise”, read the order of the court.
The DB has said as to what action should be taken against the erring Government functionaries/officers, including the concerned Revenue officers, who remained posted in Anantnag and had an occasion to deal with the matter.
Court further wanted to know as to what was the present status of the criminal case that was filed by the Crime Branch before the court of law and who were the accused therein.
Court may refer the case to Central Bureau of Investigation as it recorded in the order that since the matter involved a huge State exchequer, why should not it be referred to the CBI for a thorough investigation etc, so that the erring Government functionaries and the beneficiaries of such a wrong doing are brought to justice.
“This is not the end of it; numerous issues are likely to surface later as the case proceeds ahead”, read the order of the DB.
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