Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 7: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Jammu Bench has stopped the salary of the Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) for not complying with the orders of the court.
An order in this regard has been passed in two cases by the Division Bench comprising Judicial Member Rajinder Dogra and Administrative Member Ram Mohan Johri.
In five years old case titled “Kundan Lal Mahaldar Versus UT of J&K, the CAT had granted 14 opportunities to the respondents to file their reply but there was no compliance. Vide orders dated 13.03.2024 and 03.05.2024 the respondents were granted last and final opportunity to file reply and it was made clear that in case of non-compliance the erring officer shall remain present before the court with the explanation. However, no reply was filed till date.
In three years old case titled “Anurag Singh and Others Versus UT of J&K, the CAT had granted 12 opportunities for filing the reply but the respondents have failed to do so till date. This compelled the CAT to pass coercive order of stopping salary of Secretary GAD.
The CAT has directed the Chief Secretary to initiate an enquiry under the Conduct Rules against this officer as to why he is so negligent towards the court’s order.
‘It is the constitutional obligation of every Government officer to comply with the orders of the court. It has been observed that non-filing of the reply by the respondents leads to unnecessary delay in giving justice to the litigants”, the CAT said.
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