PIL seeking prosecution of Sr IAS, KAS officers in corruption cases
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 8: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Commissioner of Vigilance to file charge-sheets against the high-profile accused in the corruption cases, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice J P Singh and Justice Hasnain Massodi issued fresh directions to the Commissioner Secretary to General Administration Department to file status report by the next date failing which he will have to appear in person.
The Division Bench looking into the public interest involved in the matter directed the Registry to list the PIL on June 15, 2012.
The PIL has been filed by two social activists namely Sheikh Mohd Shafi, son of former MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman and Prof SK Bhalla seeking direction to the State Vigilance Organization to file charge-sheets against the high-profile accused in the designated Anticorruption Courts in FIR No 21/2006 VOJ (illegal appointments in local bodies), FIR No 22/2009 VOJ (against Babu Ram, then CDPO Doda), FIR No 18/2005 VOK (rural electrification scam), FIR No 8/2009 VOK (infamous Gulmarg land scam) and FIR No 17/2010 VOK (against Ghulam Hassan Wani, Joint Registrar Cooperative Kashmir).
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL informed the Bench that pursuant to the directions of the Court dated May 17, 2012 the Vigilance Organization has filed the status report in which it has been submitted that sanction was awaited in these cases.
He further submitted that in FIR No 29/2003 the GAD received the matter on August 19, 2004, in FIR No 21/2006 it received the file on September 24, 2007, in FIR No 22/2009 the Department received the file on August 16, 2011, in FIR No 18/2005 GAD received the file on January 15, 2008, in FIR No 8/2009 GAD received the file on December 22, 2009 and in FIR No 17/2010 VOK the file was received in the GAD on December 26, 2011.
He further submitted that in view of the deemed sanction for prosecution as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court in case titled Dr Subramanian Swamy Vs Dr Manmohan Singh and another decided on January 31, 2012, Commissioner of Vigilance should be directed to file the charge-sheets in the Anticorruption Courts.
Additional Advocate General Gagan Basotra, however, sought four weeks time for filling the status report on behalf of GAD but his submission was rejected by the Division Bench and looking into the public interest involved, Division Bench directed Commis sioner/Secre- tary GAD to file status report by next date failing which he will have to appear in person.
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