Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 20: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today directed Director Vigilance to file report of preliminary enquiry conducted against Professor Nutan K Resutra, who has been appointed as Chairman of State Board of School Education, on or before November 24.
After hearing Advocate SS Ahmed appearing for the PIL whereas Senior AAG Gagan Basotra, AAG Ravinder sharma for the State and Advocate Anil Sethi, Advocate Veenu Gupta for the private respondents, DB observed, “Professor Hemla Aggarwal has filed an application seeking her impleadment as party-respondent, which has been and she may file her reply before the adjourned date”.
“On the last date of hearing, Secretary to Government, GAD as well as Secretary to Government, Education (School) were asked to show cause why Professor Nutan Kumar Resutra be not asked to step down from the office of Chairman, J&K Board of School Education till the time regular Departmental Enquiry is over and he is exonerated otherwise”, the DB said, adding “similar information was sought in respect of Professor Hemla Aggarwal along with status of all other pending cases”.
The DB further observed, “Secretary to Government, Education (School) has filed his affidavit. However, Secretary to Government, GAD and Professor Nutan Kumar Resutra have not filed their reply. On their behalf, Senior AAG Gagan Basotra and Advocate Veenu Gupta request for some time to file reply”.
Upon this, Division Bench directed them to file reply on or before November 24. The DB further directed that the status of enquiry be also filed by Secretary to Government, Higher Education by filing an additional affidavit. Even Director, Vigilance was also directed to file preliminary enquiry report conducted against Professor Nutan Kumar Resutra on or before November 24.
Earlier, the DB, in the open court, raised the question as to why Prof Zahoor Ahmad Chatt, who figures at Number One place in the list of probables shortlisted for the post, was ignored. ”
Advocate S S Ahmed, while referring to the affidavit filed by Secretary School Education Department, said that Government has completely ignored the preliminary enquiry of Vigilance and the departmental enquiry while appointing Prof Nutan as Chairman of BOSE.
On this, Chief Justice, in the open court, remarked, “this is all bureaucratic attitude…..in this case right hand don’t know what the left has done”.
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