Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: High Court today issued notices to Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Director Estates and Deputy Director Estates in a petition filed by Suraj Singh, a visually impaired lawyer practicing in the State High Court, challenging Government Order No.216-Est of 2013 dated October, 21, 2013 whereby the claim of the specially abled lawyer for allotment of Government accommodation under 5% discretionary quota of the Minister for Estates was rejected.
When this petition came up for hearing, Senior Advocate B S Slathia with Advocate S S Ahmed appearing for the petitioner Suraj Singh submitted that the State High Court vide its judgment dated November, 27, 2012 had directed the State Government to consider the claims of the petitioner for allotment of Government accommodation under 5% discretionary quota available with the Chief Minister (Minister for Estates).
Advocate Slathia further submitted that instead of showing compassion in the case of 100% visually impaired lawyer, the Director Estates issued the impugned Government Order No.216-Est of 2013 dated October, 21, 2013 by virtue of which the case of the petitioner was rejected.
The counsel for the petitioner further submitted that the case of the petitioner was never placed before the Chief Minister and it is only Director Estates, who accorded consideration to the case of the petitioner and on hyper technical grounds the case of the specially abled lawyer was rejected.
After considering the submissions of Senior Advocate B S Slathia with Advocate S S Ahmed, Justice Tashi Rabstan issued notices to the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Director Estates, J&K and Deputy Director Estates, Jammu for filing their response within one week.
Justice Rabstan also issued notice to AAG W S Nargal.
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