Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 28: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today sought personal appearance of the Union Secretary Finance in case Assistant Solicitor General of India fails to file proper response on status of Rs 44, 000 crore sought by the State Government as flood package for the infrastructure and rehabilitation of flood victims of 2014.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi expressed displeasure and anguish over the act of Union Government for not providing financial assistance (pending claim) to State Government.
Court granted week’s time to Assistant Solicitor General of India for filing response indicating therein about pending claim out of Rs 44000 crore package with a rider that Secretary Finance union of India shall appear in person in case response is not filed by next date (3.11.2015).
Court rapped the counsel with the observation: “If you don’t come with proper response then Finance Secretary will appear in person. You come with clear stand whether you are going to sanction the assistance or not. You are taking time after time for the last three months. People are suffering”.
During the proceedings of the case counsel submitted that Rs 5000 crores have already been provided to the State Government but on the other hand State Counsel Tasaduq Khwaja (AAG) disputed the fact and submitted that only Rs 1602 crores have been released out of Rs 44000 crores.
Court also observed that the said sanction is mere 10 percent of the amount which was sought by the State Government. “You are adding routine things (financial assistance) such as incurred on tourism etc. This amount will not go to a common man. You do not show urgency”, observed the court.
It was on September 4 that court had directed the authorities to produce the new policy with regard to rehabilitation of last year flood victims and to disclose the stand of Rs 44000 crores.
Court was hearing a PIL filed by two advocates immediately after devastating floods hit the State last year.
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