Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 18: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting alleged hushing up of Rajouri Development Authority scam, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sanjay Gupta has issued directions to the Commissioner Secretary PWD to finalize the inquiry within a period of two months. The DB also directed Senior Additional Advocate General Seema Shekhar appearing for General Administration Department to produce the enquiry report on the next date of hearing–August 14, 2018.
When the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Suraj Singh and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the petitioner submitted that in the fresh status report filed by the General Administration Department on April 19, 2018 it has been disclosed that the vide Govt Order No.1661-GAD of 2017 dated December 27, 2017 Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner Secretary R&B was appointed as Inquiry Officer with the direction to submit report within a period of one month.
“Almost five months have elapsed but the Inquiry Officer is sitting over the matter and has not concluded the inquiry against the delinquent officer”, Advocate Ahmed said, adding “General Administration Department in the status report has disclosed that vide communication No.GAD(Ser)24/70-IAS/40 /96 dated April 9, 2018 the requested was made to Commissioner Secretary PWD to furnish the latest status of the case”.
“The time limit fixed by the GAD stands expired and appropriate directions are required to be issued to the Inquiry Officer to finalize the inquiry without any further delay”, he further submitted.
At this stage, Senior AAG Seema Shekhar appearing for General Administration Department submitted that she be allowed some more time to file a fresh status report indicating the status of the ongoing enquiry.
After considering the submissions of both the sides, the Division Bench directed Commissioner Secretary PWD to finalize the inquiry within a period of two months.
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