Seeks personal appearance of Director Accounts and Treasuries, other senior officers
Srinagar: The J&K High Court Friday directed personal appearance (through police) of the Director Accounts and Treasuries, Kashmir, besides other senior Finance department officers for “uncalled for delay” in reimbursement of the medical claims of a cancer patient from south Kashmir.
In a writ petition by Dr Rifat Majid through her lawyer Khushnama Chowdhary against the UT of J&K, the bench of Justice Rahul Bharti said “the matter is too serious to be taken casually or leniently” and accordingly directed issuance of notices to the respondent officers. The notices were accepted by advocate Bisma Ali, vice the Deputy Solicitor of India.
The court observed “the writ petition is literally a distress call to this court invoking Article 226 of the Constitution of India”. The grievance of the petitioner was that her ailing mother is suffering from cancer and is under treatment.
It said “the patient is on the verge of suffering loss of life because of acts of omission and commission on the part of the respondents — no. 3. Director Accounts and Treasuries, Kashmir; respondent no. 4. District Treasury Officer, Anantnag; and respondent no. 5. Treasury Officer, Kokernag (Anantnag).”
The officers, according to the petitioner, are allegedly making omissions and commissions in the matter of reimbursing the medical claims of the petitioner in connection with the treatment of her cancer-suffering mother.
Khushnama Chowdhary, counsel for the petitioner, stated at the Bar “the respondent No. 5. Mr. Ajaz Hussain Padder, who is a Treasury Officer, Kokernag, with whom the reimbursement bills of the petitioner are pending approval, has put a phone call to the mobile number of the counsel for the petitioner with the words that unless and until the petitioner withdraws the writ petition, he is not going to process the reimbursement file.”
The court taking strong note of the matter directed the Registrar Judicial, Srinagar, to issue notice for personal appearance of respondents 3 to 5 to be served through Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anantnag.
“This court directs the personal appearance of respondent no. 3-Director Accounts and Treasuries, Kashmir, at Srinagar; respondent no. 4- District Treasury Officer, Anantnag; and respondent no. 5-Treasury Officer, Kokernag (Anantnag) on next date of hearing,” directed Justice Bharti.
He directed the SSP to apprise the respondents with respect to their personal appearance in the court on Tuesday next week.
