Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today expressed its displeasure over non-filing of the status reports by the Commissioner/Secretaries of Finance, Revenue and Housing and Urban Development Departments despite the categoric directions issued on February 10.
When the Public Interest Litigation of wide public importance was taken up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Irfaan Mohammad Khan, Rahul Raina and Suraj Singh appearing for the petitioners drew the attention of the Division Bench that out of 13 newly impleaded Administrative Secretaries, 10 Administrative Secretaries viz. Industries and Commerce, Agriculture Production, Social Welfare, School Education Department, Technical Education/Youth Services and Sports, Higher Education Department, PWD, CAPD, PHE and Planning and Development Department have filed their status reports indicating the latest position of the pending departmental enquiries.
He further submitted that despite the clear cut directions passed by the Division Bench on the last date of hearing the Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Revenue and Housing and Urban Development Department have not filed their status reports nor they are present in person before the court.
“Apart from these three departments the status report have also not been filed by Commissioner/Secretaries of various other departments viz. Home, Health and Medical Education, Special Tribunal, Cooperative Department, Animal/ Sheep Husbandry, Rural Development Department, Forest Department and Tourism Department”, he said, adding “as per the status report filed on April 21, 2014 by GAD it was disclosed that 9 departmental enquiries are pending in Health and Medical Education Department, 6 in Cooperative Department, 12 in Housing and Urban Development Department, 1 in Special Tribunal, 2 in Home Department, 17 in Rural Development Department and 12 in Forest Department”.
At this stage, Senior AAG Seema Shekhar Khajooria appearing for State submitted that 10 Administrative Secretaries have already complied the directions of the Division Bench and the status reports with regard to left over three departments have also been received by the office of the Advocate General. She sought a short opportunity to place on record the status reports on behalf of Finance, Revenue and Housing and Urban Development Departments.
Looking into the importance of the matter and the prayer made by Senior AAG Seema Shekhar Khajooria appearing for the State, DB allowed time till February 29 to file the status reports on behalf of the three Secretaries viz. Finance, Revenue and Housing and Urban Development Department.
However, Advocate Ahmed requested the Division Bench that Administrative Secretaries of other left over departments be also impleaded as party respondents in the PIL and directions be given to them to submit the status of the pending enquiries.
Division Bench after considering the submissions of Advocate Ahmed allowed him the liberty to make a proper application for impleading the left over departments before the next date of hearing.
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