Srinagar: The High Court has issued a warrant of arrest against the Commissioner Secretary Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in a contempt petition arising out of non-execution of a 2017 judicial order.
The bench of Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi issued bailable warrant to secure presence of Commissioner Secretary to Government, Forest Department in the contempt petition filed by one Ghulam Hassan Mir.
The court heard the contempt petition filed by Mir, seeking implementation of judgment dated May 04, 2017, by which it was directed that the J&K government should consider regularization of his services within four weeks.
As the case came up for hearing before the bench of Justice Kazmi, the court was informed that the Commissioner Secretary despite being informed about directions regarding personal appearance has neither chosen to appear or file application for exemption.
“Let the presence of respondent No.1 (the Commissioner Secretary) be secured through issuance of bailable warrant to the tune of Rs 50,000 to be executed through concerned SSP,” the court said.
The court said “in the interest of justice, further two weeks’ time is granted to respondents for filing compliance report strictly in consonance with the judgment 04.05.2017 with an advance copy to the counsel for the petitioner.”
It ordered posting of the matter on October 28, 2022.
On the last date of hearing on August 31 this year, F. A. Bhat, Additional Advocate General, sought and was granted “last and final” opportunity for filing compliance report strictly in conformity with the judgment of May 2017. Failing compliance, Commissioner Secretary was directed to appear in person along with the record.
The court took note of the para 7 of a previous compliance report “that the General Administration Department vide its U.O. No. GAD-CORD/64/2022 dated 21.06.2022 informed that the proposal is under consideration”.
Though it has been stated as a compliance report but the judgment dated 04.05.2017 has not been implemented till date, noted the court.
