Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench has issued notices to the Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) and Commissioner Secretary Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in four cases for not filing reply since more than eight years.
The Judicial Member Rajinder Dogra, while passing order in this regard, observed, “the cases are pending since more than last 8 to 9 years and despite granting last and final opportunity neither the replies were filed nor the officers caused presence”.
“The Government counsel has also failed to explain why the departments are not interested in filing replies in these old cases. The court deems it appropriate to send the notices to Commissioner Secretaries by affording them one more last and final opportunity in the interest of justice to file replies failing which coercive action will be taken against them on the next date of hearing”, the CAT said.
One matter pertained to the year 2015 and another 2018 and in both these cases the reply of the GAD is required but the same is not being filed during the past so many years due to which these cases could not be decided. The CAT vide orders dated 06.05.2024 and 11.06.2024 granted last opportunity and it was mentioned that in case of non-compliance the concerned officers shall remain personally on the next date of hearing. Now both the cases will be taken up on 20th August, 2024.
Similarly, two other matters pertaining to PHE Department were filed in 2015 and 2017 and in both these cases replies have not been filed till date. Vide orders dated 21.02.2024, 24.04.2024 and 13.06.2024 the respondents were directed to file the reply but there was no compliance.
Taking serious note of this, CAT has directed the Commissioner Secretary PHE to ensure necessary compliance of these orders failing which coercive action will be taken on the next date of hearing— 22nd August, 2024.
“Non-filing of the reply by the respondents leads to unnecessary delay in giving the justice to the litigants”, CAT said.
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