Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: In a significant order, High Court has directed Inspector General of Police, State Vigilance Organization Alok Puri to submit the status of the complaint dated March 8, 2016 seeking registration of FIR under Section 5(2) PC Act against Raman Bhalla, former Minister for Housing and Ram Pal Sharma, former Incharge Managing Director J&K Housing Board (presently Secretary, J&K Housing Board).
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina and Suraj Singh appearing for the petitioner, Justice Tashi Rabstan issued notices in the contempt petition to Alok Puri, Inspector General of Police, State Vigilance Organization and Dr Koshal Kumar Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Organization Jammu.
The Court looking into the importance of the issue also directed Inspector General of Police, State Vigilance Organization to file the latest status of the complaint filed by the petitioner.
When the contempt petition came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed submitted that pursuant to RTI disclosure it came to fore that former Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla in league with then Incharge Managing Director J&K Housing Board Ram Pal Sharma got several works executed both in Jammu and Srinagar purely on extraneous considerations and actuated with malafide exercise of power and the then MD Housing Board Ram Pal Sharma carried out all the illegal orders/directions of the then Minister which resulted in creation of liabilities worth Rs 27.60 crore.
He further submitted that works which were to be undertaken by PDD, PWD, Floriculture and other line departments were got executed by the then Minister for Housing for ulterior motives merely by abusing his official position and Ram Pal Sharma just to remain in good books of the then Minister implemented the illegal orders which resulted into creation of huge liabilities.
Advocate Ahmed further submitted that the works were got executed through blue eyed contractors in derogation to the norms laid down in J&K Financial Code. The works in question were distributed to select contractors who were enjoying proximity with the former Minister.
He drew the attention of the Court to the complaint dated March 8, 2016 made to the IGP Vigilance and SSP VOJ for registration of FIR against the former Minister and then MD J&K Housing Board. “Despite expiry of almost two months the SVO has failed to register FIR against the former Minister and his accomplice”, he further said while referring to the judgment of Supreme Court dated November, 12, 2013 in case of Lalita Kumari V/s Govt of UP & Ors.
“The Vigilance Organization was under an obligation to complete the preliminary enquiry within 15 days but the SVO without caring for the directions of the Apex Court has preferred to shield the high profile former Minister and has violated the mandate of law laid down by the Supreme Court of India”, he added.
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