Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 22: State High Court today directed the Home Secretary to disclose the names of the officers and officials who had provided undue security cover to the Forest Guard-cum-Additional PRO to Deputy Chief Minister, Kewal Sharma. The High Court has also directed the Secretary General Administration Department to apprise the court about the action taken into the allegations of accumulation of assets by the Forest Guard.
These directions were passed in a petition filed by Prof S K Bhalla seeking withdrawal of security and inquiry into accumulation of assets by Kewal Kumar Sharma.
After hearing Advocate SS Ahmed with Advocate Rahul Raina appearing for the petitioner, Justice Bansi Lal Bhat observed, “status report has been filed by Home Secretary, perusal whereof brings it to fore that no residential guards and PSOs are presently deployed with Kewal Kumar Sharma”.
“Advocate S S Ahmed appearing for the petitioner has invited the attention of this court to the information provided by DySP DAR DPL, Jammu to the petitioner under RTI Act. Perusal of the information reveals that 3 men guard and 4 PSOs had been provided to Additional PRO KK Sharma as per the directions of the senior officials”, Justice Bhat said, adding “it is submitted that Home Secretary, in his affidavit, has not indicated as to who are the officers, who provided the guards and PSOs of the strength of 7 personnel to Additional PRO and under whose orders, the security was provided”.
Accordingly, High Court directed Home secretary to file an affidavit in this regard within four weeks.
Justice Bansi Lal Bhat further observed, “it also emanates from the status report filed by Home Secretary that grievance of petitioner with regard to accumulation of assets by KK Sharma has been referred to General Administration Department for necessary action”.
The court directed Secretary General Administration Department to file status report in regard to the action taken with respect to the allegations of accumulation of assets by Kewal Sharma within the same time frame.
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