CAT Stops Salary of DG IMPARD, Chief Engineer PDD, Director Animal Husbandry Jammu and Director Forest Protection Force Jammu.

In an unprecedented move, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has taken stringent action against several high-ranking officials in Jammu for failing to comply with court directives. The decision, which has sent shockwaves through the administrative corridors, highlights a significant crackdown on bureaucratic negligence and non-compliance.

||Black and White Digital News||

||Tejveer Singh July 16 ,2024 ||

JAMMU : In a stern response to persistent non-compliance with its orders, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Jammu, led by Judicial Member Rajinder Singh Dogra, has ordered the immediate suspension of salaries for top officials across various departments. The officials affected by this sweeping decision include the Director General and Joint Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), the Chief Engineer of the Maintenance and RE Wing of the Power Development Department Jammu, the Director of Animal Husbandry Jammu, and the Director of the Forest Protection Force Jammu.

Court’s Patience Tested: A Series of Final Warnings Ignored:

The Tribunal’s decision follows a prolonged period of non-compliance with court orders. In the case of Ashok Kumar Bhat versus J&K IMPARD, orders dated May 2, 2024, and June 13, 2024, had granted the respondents a final opportunity to submit a written statement. It was explicitly stated that failure to comply would necessitate personal appearances and explanations from the ‘erring’ officers.

This matter, initially filed in 2020 before the High Court of J&K, was transferred to CAT on June 12, 2020. Despite numerous listings and ample time to respond, the respondents consistently failed to file a reply. The persistent disregard for the court’s directives forced Judicial Member Dogra to impose the harsh measure of salary suspension for the Director General and Joint Director of J&K IMPARD, stating, “Officers who are not obeying the court orders don’t deserve salary.”

The Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) has been instructed to halt the salaries of these officers until further notice. Additionally, the Commissioner Secretary of the relevant department has been tasked with initiating an inquiry to determine the reasons behind the non-compliance, with strict actions to follow.

Multiple Departments Under Scrutiny…

The case Rakesh Kumar versus Power Development Department experienced a similar fate. Initially filed in 2018 before the High Court, it was transferred to CAT on August 11, 2020. Despite several opportunities to comply with court orders, the respondents failed to do so. Consequently, the Tribunal ordered the suspension of the salary for the Chief Engineer of the Maintenance and RE Wing of the Power Development Department Jammu. An inquiry has been mandated to uncover the reasons for the non-compliance, with subsequent actions to be taken against the Chief Engineer.

In the case Dr. Mohammad Akseer Mir versus Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, which was transferred in July 2020, the Tribunal’s directives were repeatedly ignored. As a result, CAT has now ordered the immediate suspension of the salary for the Director of Animal Husbandry Jammu, with an inquiry to follow.

Similarly, the Director of the Forest Protection Force (FPF) Jammu has also been subjected to salary suspension due to continuous non-compliance with the Tribunal’s orders. An inquiry has been directed to investigate the reasons for the non-compliance and to ensure accountability.

Implications and Next Steps:

The Tribunal’s orders underscore a crucial principle: “Non-filing of the replies by the respondents leads to unnecessary delay in giving justice to the litigants and justice delayed is justice denied. The aggrieved litigants are running from pillar to post to get the justice but due to the non-serious approach of the officials, public faith in judiciary is getting eroded.”

The next hearing, scheduled for August 9, 2024, will require the submission of the action taken reports along with the written statements from the respondents. The CAT’s decisive action aims to restore faith in the judicial process and ensure that no official, regardless of their position, is above the law. This landmark decision sends a clear message across the administrative spectrum: compliance with judicial orders is paramount, and non-compliance will be met with stringent consequences.

This comprehensive crackdown not only highlights the importance of adherence to judicial directives but also serves as a reminder that the wheels of justice, though they may turn slowly, do turn resolutely towards accountability and integrity.