Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 3: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation regarding construction of lawyers chambers and security of the court complex at Janipur, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today directed Secretary Planning to ensure compliance of orders within two weeks or appear in person on next date of hearing.
Division Bench, after perusal of status report filed by Additional Secretary Law, observed, “on one side the Law Department states that Planning Department vide order dated May 5, 2015 has accorded sanction to earmarking of Rs 4 crore for construction of the lawyers’ chamber at Jammu and on the other side only 50% of allocation—Rs 2 crore have been released in favour of Law Department for the construction of lawyers’ chambers and the approach road”.
“No reason has been given in the status report as to why despite clear orders from this court and despite the sanction order, the entire amount has not been released in favor of JKPCC”, the DB further observed.
Senior Advocate DC Raina appearing for the JKPCC stated that no amount as yet has been released to the agency. However, in anticipation of the receipt of amount reflected in the sanction order, the work has been initiated and is in full swing.
Division Bench further observed, “another direction was relating to sanctioning of an amount of Rs 50 lakh for the black topping of the road leading to the new parking area in court complex in order to facilitate the PWD to commence the work immediately thereafter”, adding “it appears from the status report that this part of direction has not been complied with on ground as detailed estimate of work has yet not been prepared”.
After hearing Advocate Abhinav Sharma appearing for the Bar Association Jammu, DB took serious note of non compliance of the court directions and directed Secretary Planning to ensure compliance of order within a period of two weeks failing which he shall remain personally present on the next date of hearing.
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