Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: The High Court has rapped the Social Welfare Department for altering the Court directions on its own and directed the authorities to modify its order and keep it in tune with Court directions.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey heavily came down on SWD authorities for extending the time for process and disbursement of benefits to poor girls in 22 days instead of 15 days.
The Department is bound to process and thereafter grant benefits to poor girls in the State under ‘SMAS’ & ‘HUNNAR’ schemes with a period of 15 day as the court directed but today the court has been informed by amicus and Senior Advocate B A Bashir that the court direction has been deviated by the authorities.
Advocate Bashir further submitted before the Court that there is no full proof mechanism with the authorities for grant of benefits to the deserving candidates under these schemes as the authorities are taking lot of time in deciding the application submitted by the destitute girls with the excuse that funds are not available.
He submitted before the Court if any of the girls among them is married during their pendency of cases for providing financial assistance then what is the fund of these schemes.
Court has deferred the hearing of the case till Thursday (Oct 26) and asked the SWD counsel Hashim Hussain to modify the order passed by the Government wherein 22 days have been prescribed instead of 15 days, on its own without seeking proper permission from the court.
It may be mentioned here that court had directed that from the submission of application for providing assistance up-to disbursement of payment, the whole process be completed within 15 days. Court rapped the State Counsel with the observation that why the time line from 15 days to 22 days has been changed.
“You took law into your own hands, you should have come to court with an application seeking extension of time line. Don’t undermine the court. We are exercising a lot of self restraint. Otherwise court is not powerless”, court observed.
Court was hearing a Public Interest on the issues of welfare and providing financial assistance to the poor girls as also amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Authorities after identifying the poor girls under the scheme (SMAS) and court directions are duty bound to provide them an amount of Rs. 25000/- each and 5 gms of gold for their living a dignified life.
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