STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a contempt petition filed by one Jagdev Singh for implementation of Apex Court Judgment in which Apex Court has granted Jammu migrants relief at par with Kashmiri migrants, State on Wednesday implemented the Court direction and paid over Rs 16 crore including more than Rs. 7 crore as interest.
A Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan after hearing Advocate H.C Jalmeria for the petitioners whereas Sindu Sharma ASGI for the Union of India and Deputy AG Ehsan Mirza appearing for the State, observed that application is filed for non-compliance of direction issued in contempt petition by order dated 24th April, 2016 giving direction to release the amount of Rs. 9.05 crore with 9 per cent interest per annum from January 2010.
The Division Bench further observed that counsel appearing for the respondents has now produced the order passed by the Government No.68-R&R of 2016 dated 15th November, 2016 sanctioning a sum of over Rs.16 crore for disbursement of the relief and interest thereon to 994 identified migrant families of Jammu region.
The Division Bench further observed that because of the delay in implementing the order of this Court dated 11th November, 2009 ordering to sanction a sum of Rs.9.05 crore for paying benefits from 2004-2007, the officers have committed a loss of more than Rs 7 crore to the government by way of payment of interest thereon. This may be an eye opener for the government particularly the finance department in obeying the order of the Courts without any delay and without inviting orders in contempt proceeding.
The Division Bench also directed Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) Jammu to release the aforesaid amount to the already identified migrant families of Jammu region within a period of eight weeks from today.
Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that apart from the migrant families already identified, the other migrant families may also be identified as directed by this Court in its order dated 11th November, 2009 and they may be granted liberty to approach before the Relief Commissioner for their identification. After going through the submission, the Division Bench granted the said liberty.
