STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bar Association Jammu and Sumit Nayyar seeking construction of lawyers chambers, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice D.S Thakur and Justice Tashi Rabstan observed that pursuant to earlier order dated Director (Coordination) Planning and Development Department was directed to remain present in person to explain the delay in release of funds for completion of lawyers chambers being undertaken by J and K PCC.
Division Bench further observed that Director (Coordination) Planning and Development Department is present in person before the Court. It is stated by him that for 2014-15 an amount of Rs. 2.17 cr had been sanctioned by the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs of the State pursuant to the approval granted by the Planning Commission of Finance/Ministry of Finance. As against an amount of Rs. 2.17 cr, Rs. 1.09 cr had been released in favour of Department of Law and Parliamentary Affairs which was further routed to the JKPCC for construction of lawyers chamber. With regard to the balance amount of Rs. 1.08 cr, he stated that despite sanction having been accorded by the Planning Commission, balance funds to the tune of Rs. 1.08 cr for the lawyers chambers would be released only after the State Government furnishes proof/bills reflecting that earlier amount of Rs. 1.09 cr had already been spent on the project undertaken by the JKPCC. He stated that details regarding the same have already been submitted and forwarded to the Planning Commission through the Planning and Development Department of the State and that it is expected, in the normal course, that the funds would be released in favour of the State Government somewhere in the month of January, 2015.
Upon this Division Bench directed him to file a detailed affidavit in this regard giving details regarding the dates on which the request for release of balance amount has been made in favour of the State on account of construction cost of the lawyers chamber amounting to Rs. 1.08 cr for 2014-15.JNF