Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 20: High Court today issued bailable warrants against the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar through Inspector General of Police for securing their presence before the court on next date of hearing.
The warrants have been issued by Justice Sanjeev Kumar in a contempt petition filed by a hotelier Hotel Sidiquee Palace situated in Bishember-Nagar area of Srinagar. The hotelier has filed a plea before the court that the Government has taken his part of the hotel on rent for Panches and Sarpanches but has failed to provide the rent in lieu of rented accommodation.
Justice Kumar while observing that both the authorities viz Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar have not filed their affidavits as they were directed neither they appeared before the court today nor their counsel was present directed their presence through bailable warrants.
Court recorded that it is, thus, clear that both the officers are in defiance mode and have no respect for the orders of this Court. “In these circumstances, this Court is left with no option but to secure the presence of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, through bailable warrants in the amount of Rs.20,000/ each to be executed by IGP, Kashmir, Srinagar”, Justice Kumar ordered.
On previous date Government counsel sought and was reluctantly granted two weeks’ last and final opportunity to file the affidavit of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar with the condition that both shall remain present in person in case the requisite affidavits are not filed.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir was directed to consider the case of the petitioner for release of admitted liability towards him on account of rental compensation and in compliance to the court order the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir as also the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar filed the statement of which the court said, are at variance.
Court also observed that there seems to be an attempt to pass on buck from one to another as the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, in his reply affidavit denies having hired the hotel of the petitioner, whereas Divisional Commissioner has stated otherwise.
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