| Jammu, Aug 12: In a Public Interest Litigation regarding misappropriation of food grains meant for public, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Tashi Rabstan took serious note and expressed anguish over the way the CA&PD was dealing with the instant matter and had not filed its status report despite there being direction in this regard. Govt Advocate Monish Chopra appearing for the CAPD sought two week's time for doing the needful which was granted by Division Bench. In an application, it has been brought to the notice of Division Bench by Advocate Vikram Sharma appearing for the 34 applicants who were earlier posted in Gowran Dumping Centre District Anantnag that out of the slot of 34 employees, 13 persons figuring in the list initially submitted by the Director, CA&PD have since been exonerated in an enquiry conducted as is clear from the status report filed to the instant application by Under Secretary, CA&PD. He further submitted that with regard to the shortage deducted in the aforesaid Dumping Centre, criminal cases FIR No. 122, 123 & 124 came to be registered in Police Station, Kokernag and after investigating the said case, concerned police has closed the case against 13 persons and produced the charge sheet against 03 persons and 01 contractor as indicated in the status report filed by CA&PD. Counsel submitted that the status report was filed by Under Secretary, CA&PD on 7th July, 2014 whereas 13 persons out of the slot of 34 have now received the notices of recovery of outstanding amount on account of shortage of food grains and this notice is dated 23rd May, 2014. According to him, Under Secretary, CA&PD while filing the status report pursuant to the instant application, perhaps was not aware of the issuance of the recovery notices to those 13 persons issued by Assistant Director, CA&PD, Anantnag. Govt Advocate Monish Chopra appearing for CA&PD stated that he may be given one week's time to file better response to the instant application verifying all the facts from the concerned quarter and would also take up the matter with CA&PD for recalling of the recovery notices already sent to the 13 employees of Gowran Dumping Centre. Division Bench directed Registry to list this PIL in the first Week of September, 2014. (JNF) |
