Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 16: Expressing displeasure over the non-filing of response by the finance secretary to the February 9, 2016 court directive issued to him, a high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today granted him last opportunity of one week to file his response, failing which he was directed to appear in person.
The court directive came in a letter written by Disabled Welfare Association to the court which later considered it as PIL.
Earlier, the amicus curiae submitted that no response had been filed by the finance secretary to the February 9, 2016 division bench directive, highlighting the sorry state of affairs of the disabled people who were just getting Rs 500 as disability pension introduced in 1995.
He said the social welfare department had taken up the matter with the finance department vide March 31, 2015 U O No SW/Lit/74/ for concurrence in respect of enhancement of pension to be paid to the widows and physically challenged persons having a disability of 60 pc or more in the light of government announcement made on the floor of the House. In the neighbouring states of Punjab, Himachal and Haryana, the disability pension already stood enhanced but there was no headway in J&K in this regard, he added.
After hearing him, the bench expressed its displeasure over the finance department's act of non-filing of the response and for sitting over the matter. The finance department's counsel then sought one week's time to comply with the court directions. The deputy advocate general, appearing for the social welfare department, submitted that matter with regard to enhancement of disability pension "stands already taken up with the finance department and their concurrence is awaited".
After hearing the counsels, the bench granted last opportunity of one week to the finance secretary to file his response to the February 9, 2016 court directive, failing which he was directed to appear in person. |
