Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 5:The state government today said that it will release the required amount for the payment of salary to 38 judges and the staff in additional special mobile magistrate courts by August 12. A statement in this regard was made by Advocate General J I Ganie before a division bench of the high court headed by Chief Justice N Paul Vasantha kumar during the hearing of suo-moto case regarding the salary of the judicial officers. On Tuesday, the advocate general had submitted before the court that the matter regarding the salary of judges and staff has been taken with the finance department and decision was awaited. However, the division bench had taken strong exception to it and had asked the state to clear stand or else court will take its recourse including sending the concerned officials to jail. Last week, the state high court had directed government to release Rs 4.5 crores for payment of salary to 38 judicial officers of additional special mobile magistrate and the staff attached to these courts. Taking cognizance of a matter at the instance of court's registry, the court has also issued notice to the government through Chief Secretary and Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. "The state government cannot shirk its responsibility on the plea of want of funds. It is well settled proposition of law declared by the Supreme Court that it is the responsibility of the person running the administration to find out the source to extend the guaranteed rights of the citizens," the court had observed. The 38 Additional/Special Mobile Magistrate and the staff attached to the courts have been established under 13th Finance Commission in lieu of creating the morning and evening Courts for the state for improving justice delivery system. The Registry has said the Government of India has stopped funding under the scheme namely 14th Finance Commission due to which from March this year, the Judicial Officers as well as the staff was not getting their salary. The Registry said that the salary amount required for the Judicial Officers as well as the staff for the financial year 2015-2016 is Rs. 10, 38, 97,152/. As per the information furnished by the Registry of this Court a sum of Rs. 86,58,096/- is required as monthly salary and an amount of Rs. 4,32,90,480/- is required to be paid as pending salary to the Judicial Officers and the Court Staff for five months i.e. salary payable from March 2015 to July 2015. |
