Rajesh Gupta
JAMMU, May 4: There are countless questions on working of lot of top officers, and one among them is Officers never bothered to implement LG's own time bound Administrative Councils Decision No 17/1/2022 dtd 29th Jan 2022.
However, taking serious note of non-filing of replies despite numerous orders, the Central Administrative Tribunal Jammu Bench has stopped the salary of Principal Secretary, Power Development Department till further orders.
The SWP No.1736 was transferred to CAT Jammu Bench vide order dated March 17, 2021 and thereafter the case was listed on December 6, 2021 for the first time before the CAT Jammu Bench & accordingly, the respondents were directed to file the reply in the matter.
Two days back, the case was again listed before the CAT Jammu Bench headed by Member (J) Rajinder Singh Dogra and on perusal of records, the Bench observed that, the case was listed several times but respondents have not bothered to file reply till date despite availing sufficient time & noticed that vide order dated February 28, 2024 the respondents were granted last and final opportunity to file reply and it was made clear that in case of failure to do so the erring officer shall remain virtually present before this court but they have not bothered to appear before this court to explain as to why the reply was not filed despite granting various opportunities to them
CAT directed Govt to ensure that the salary of Principal Secretary PDD be stopped with immediate effect till further orders & Chief Secretary was directed to initiate an enquiry against the Principal Secretary PDD as to why neither the reply was filed nor he was present before the court despite clear directions passed vide order dated 28.02.2024, and thereafter, take strict action against the officer for not complying the orders of the court.
CAT further ordered that Action Taken Report be submitted along with the written statement in the present case on or before the next date of hearing.
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