Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 21: Taking serious note of non-compliance of its orders, the Central Administrative Tribunal Bench comprising Rajinder Singh Doda (Member-J) and Ram Mohan Johri (Member-A) has stopped the salary of Secretary, General Administration Department and issued bailable warrants against Director School Education Jammu and Chief Education Officer Poonch.
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In a case titled Bimla Devi Versus General Administration Department, the respondents were granted last and final opportunity to file their written statement vide orders dated 21.11.2024, 19.12.2024 and 11.02.2025 but they failed to comply with the orders thereby showing blatant disregard for the authority of the court.
Moreover, despite clear directions, the respondents failed to remain virtually present before the court through video-conferencing to explain why the reply was not filed thereby further aggravating their non-compliance.
In view of respondents’ deliberate and willful non-compliance, the CAT has passed the order of stopping the salary of Secretary, General Administration Department with immediate effect till further orders. The DDO concerned has been directed to ensure that the salary of officer is not released.
Further, the Chief Secretary has been directed to initiate departmental inquiry against the Secretary, GAD for his failure to comply with the orders of the court.
Meanwhile, in case titled Ravinder Kour Versus Education Department, despite repeated orders the respondents/contemnors failed to file their compliance report demonstrating a blatant disregard for the judicial process.
Vide order dated 28.02.2025, the salary of the erring officers was stopped but still they failed to file their response, which is a serious contempt of the court. Taking serious note of this, the CAT has issued bailable warrants against Dr Naseem Javid Choudhary, Director School Education Jammu and Iftikhar Ali Shah, Chief Education Officer Poonch directing them to appear in person on next date of hearing-April 23, 2025.
“Non-compliance of the order will be viewed seriously and the erring officers will be liable for contempt proceedings”, read the order.
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