Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 16: Several years long battle of Jammu migrants for getting relief at par with Kashmiri migrants has finally reached the logical conclusion with the Government releasing Rs 16 crore on the directions of the State High Court, which has now fixed eight weeks time for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) for disbursal of amount.
When the contempt petition filed by one Jagdev Singh against the senior functionaries of the State Government came up for hearing before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan, the counsel for the respondents produced the order passed by the Government on November 11, 2016 sanctioning Rs 16 crore for disbursement of relief and interest thereon to 994 identified migrant families of Jammu region.
After hearing Advocate HC Jalmeria for the petitioners whereas ASGI Sindu Sharma for the Union of India and Deputy AG Ehsan Mirza appearing for the State, the DB observed, “because of the delay in implementing the order of this court dated 11.11.2009 whereby direction was issued for sanctioning a sum of Rs 9.05 crore for paying benefits from 2004-2007, the officers have committed a loss of more than Rs 7 crore to the Government by way of payment of interest thereon”, adding “this shall serve as an eye opener to the Government particularly the Finance Department”.
The DB directed Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) Jammu to release the amount to the already identified migrant families of Jammu region within a period of eight weeks from today.
The counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that apart from the migrant families already identified, the other migrant families may also be identified as directed by this court in its order dated 11.11.2009 and they may be granted liberty to approach the Relief Commissioner for their identification.
On this, Division Bench granted the liberty sought by the counsel for the petitioners.
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