Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today pulled up the authorities entrusted with relief and rehabilitation of last year’s flood victims as no development has been seen by the court from them after going through the latest status report.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice N P Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed Director Ministry of Home Affairs and Secretary Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation to file the latest report by October 15.
Court came down heavily on appearing counsel for Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation who is seeking revisit of 22 flood affected districts. Court pulled him up with the observation. “What will you see there if you visit now after 14 months?”. It directed the counsel to bring him here in the court after break and court passed over the matter for post lunch session.
Court said: “He was appointed by Supreme Court as member of the committee, he is not responding. Who is appearing Commissioner Secretary, he is also not signatory to the court committee report. He has submitted report based on the feedback from Divisional Commissioner.” Court asked appearing counsel that he should apprise his Secretary that he is here in the capacity of member court committee.
A committee appointed on the directions by SC with Registrar Vigilance of this court as convener filed report and it is stated in the statement annexed with the report that Director Ministry of Home Affairs did not respond to report.
The Secretary Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation forward report after collecting details from Divisional Commissioner. The president Kashmir High Court Bar Association has also not subscribed to the report and seeks time to file own report.
“The counsel appearing for the Director Ministry of Home Affairs seeks time to file response filed by Registrar Judicial. Secretary Revenue and Relief is also seeking time to file his view on the report” reads the order.
Secretary Revenue and Rehabilitation submitted before the court that he joined 4 months back. On 28th he submitted report to Registrar Judicial about what Government has done.
“Earlier, your predecessor visited and filed the preliminary report. Have you gone through the report? You are now saying that you want to visit 22 districts now. What will you see after 14 months”, court asked the Secretary.
Court further added that earlier committee visited all the areas and submitted the preliminary report and now you are ignoring all this and have taken a different stand.
“You are a court appointed officer and not in your official capacity. You should have to respond to the court and if you are not subscribing to the views of the court committee, you should file independent report.”
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