Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: High Court today directed the State to lay down the guidelines with regard to time-frame within which reply is to be prepared and file in the courts on the receipt of notices.
“In case of failure of the officers to adhere to the time frame for preparation and filing of reply and also production of the record as per directions of the court, the concerned officials shall be made accountable and appropriate action be taken as per law”, Justice B S Walia further directed.
The direction was passed while allowing the writ petition of one Janko Devi, who was also declared as Panch of Sheikhpura Panch Constituency of Panchayat Halqa Kathar in Bishnah block. The High Court even imposed cost of Rs one lakh on the State functionaries.
Earlier, Senior Advocate S S Lehar and Advocate Aditya Sharma submitted before the court that the Janko Devi had filed her nomination and the private respondent Sunita Devi had not annexed the basic documents as required in terms of Rule 9-C of the Rules on the date of scrutiny.
Though the petitioner was the only validly nominated candidate at that time but the Returning Officer of Block Bishnah included the name of the Sunita Devi, they submitted.
After hearing the counsels for the petitioner, Justice Walia allowed the writ petition and declared the Janko Devi as Panch. “The exemplary cost of Rs 1 lakh shall be paid by the official respondent to the petitioner within 4 weeks from today”, High Court directed.
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