Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 20: High Court has expressed its deep concern for not implementing its judgment directing therein for release of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees and framed rule against the Commissioner Secretary Finance Department in contempt proceedings against him.
Justice Sanjay Dhar said the authorities have no justification for delaying the implementation of a judgment passed four years ago.
Justice Dhar while framing rule against the incumbent officer directed to issue notice also to him to show cause as to why contempt of court proceedings be not initiated against him.
“The Registrar Judicial is directed to frame rule against the Commissioner Secretary Finance and issue notice to him to show cause as to why contempt of court proceedings be not initiated against him”, Justice Dhar directed.
The employees (All J&K SRTC Union) filed the contempt proceedings against the Commissioner Secretary and others alleging therein that the authorities have not implemented the judgment of the court till date.
Advocate Hakim Suhail Ishtiaq representing employees submitted that despite the lapse of four years neither the judgment has been complied with nor the court had been informed about the implementation of judgment.
The court in its basic judgment had directed that while calculating the COLA of these employees, the documents which might be furnished by the petitioner Association, shall also be kept into consideration and the exact amount shall be communicated to the Finance Department with a copy to the Transport Department.
“Further, it is made clear that whatever amount is calculated as arrears by the Corporation shall be provided under a separate head by the name of “arrears of COLA/Leave salary”. The amount shall be made available in addition to the wages bill which generally is provided by the Government to the Corporation. Needless to say that the petitioners have been before this Court for last more than 20 years; initially for the purpose of establishing a right to claim pensionary benefits as employees of the Government and the erstwhile Government Transport Undertaking; and now for the purpose of release of COLA and other arrears”, read the judgment.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
