Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: High Court today reserved judgment in petition seeking withdrawal of security cover from Kewal Krishan Sharma, the then Additional PRO to the then Deputy Chief Minister and highlighting accommulation of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income.
When this petition came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocate Rahul Raina appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of the court to the latest status report filed by General Administration Department wherein it was disclosed that after considering the reports of the then Deputy Commissioner Jammu and the then Divisional Commissioner Jammu recommending stern action against Kewal Krishan Sharma, the case has been referred to the Principal Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment Department for initiation of Regular Departmental Action against Kewal Kumar Sharma under J&K Classification Control and Appeal Rules, 1956 being cadre controlling authority of the delinquent public servant.
Advocate Ahmed strenuously argued that he will press the impleadment of two IPS officers namely Atul Goel and Anand Jain, who being SSPs of Jammu provided undue security cover to Kewal Sharma in breach of the established norms. “Both senior police officers are required to be arrayed as party respondents so that they are put to notice and asked to explain their conduct as to why in breach of established norms undue security cover was provided to a Forest Guard turned PRO”, he further submitted.
On the other hand, AAG Vishal Sharma appearing for Home Department submitted that since the security cover has already been withdrawn as such the writ petition has been rendered infructuous and the impleadment of two IPS officers was wholly unwarranted. He
Senior Advocate K S Johal with Advocate Aashray S Choudhary appearing for Kewal Sharma, submitted that ex-PRO is facing threat to his life and in fact Kewal Sharma is a whistleblower and needs to be protected.
At this stage, Senior Advocate U K Jalali with Advocates Anuj Sawhney, Priyanshu Sharma and Jasleen Kour caused appearance on behalf of Tara Chand, former Deputy Chief Minister and sought intervention in the matter.
After hearing the matter at length, Justice Tashi Rabstan reserved the matter for judgment.
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