Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 1: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation seeking prosecution of bureaucrats allegedly involved in corruption cases, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today granted four weeks time to the State and the Union of India for filing status report as per the order dated September 4, 2013.
In its earlier order, the High Court had directed the State and Union of India to file status report regarding an officer namely Mohd Yousuf Bhat, who is involved in the much publicized electrification scam of Panchayat Ghars of district Anantnag.
In this particular case, the sanction for prosecution was accorded by GAD on May 10, 2012 but the officer challenged FIR under Section 561-A, which is pending before the Court and there is stay order prohibiting the prosecution to the present the challan.
Senior Advocate Gagan Basotra appearing for the State stated that according to the judgment of Apex Court, the continuation of stay order after presentation of challan, is impressible in corruption case and therefore necessary steps for vacation of order passed by Court are required to be taken.
Similarly, in case FIR No 38/39 of 2003 registered at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir the name of IFS officer Faoorq Ahmed Geelani has figured but as per status report filed by the Ministry of the Forest an interim direction of status-quo has been passed by the Writ Court.
The cases of three officers namely Farooq Ahmed Geelani, Ajaz Ahmed Bhat and Abdul Gani Hajam are also pending consideration of Union of India but sanction has not been accorded till date which is pending since March 20, 2012.
After hearing Advocate SS Ahmed appearing for the PIL whereas ASGI KK Pangotra appearing for the Union of India and Senior Additional Advocate General Gagan Basotra appearing for the State, Division Bench directed Sr AAG to take necessary steps for modification/vacation of the stay orders.
ASGI KK Pangotra was directed to take up the matter with the concerned Ministry and file status report within four weeks.
The DB directed the Registry to list the PIL in the week commencing October 28, 2013.
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