Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: High Court today warned to issue directions for stopping salary of the Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department in case of further non-compliance of the orders issued in a petition challenging dis-engagement of Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah as Director Social Audit, MGNREGA.
The Commissioner Secretary, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, who was present in the court in pursuance to earlier order, was directed by Justice Tashi Rabstan to file detailed compliance to the orders dated June 8, 2015 and December 18, 2014 within three weeks.
The High Court made it clear that, in further default, the salary of Commissioner Secretary Rural Development Department for the month of August will not be released. The High Court further directed the Registry to forward the copy of this order to the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officer and also fixed August 14 as the next date of hearing.
When this petition came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of the court towards the orders dated December, 18, 2014 and June, 8, 2015 whereby the High Court had directed the Secretary RDD to release the monthly emoluments as well as the move allowance of the petitioner, who was appointed as Director Social Audit, MGNREGA in the Department of Rural Development on October, 18, 2014.
Advocate Ahmed further submitted that the court vide detailed order passed on June 8, 2015 had rejected the stance taken by the Rural Development Department. He said that till date the Secretary RDD has not implemented the directions of the court.
On the other hand, AAG Z S Watali again reiterated that petitioner stood disengaged on October, 18, 2014 but the order of disengagement could not be communicated to him and field agencies.
Upon this, Advocate Ahmed invited the attention of the court to the minutes of the meeting dated October, 25, 2014 wherein the Secretary RDD had written ‘speak’ and the subsequent correspondence indicating the petitioner’s field visits to various districts in Kashmir valley and in Jammu Province as Director Social Audit MGNREGA.
Upon this, the Court sought the explanation of the Commissioner Secretary, who took the plea that the correspondence was one sided and there was no such communication from the Government.
Court expressed its displeasure and took strong note of the non-compliance of the orders dated December 18, 2014 and June 8, 2015 and directed the Commissioner Secretary RDD to file detailed compliance report within three weeks.
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