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Lucknow Latest News: Lucknow Bench of Lucknow High Court imposed a fine of Rs 11,000 on DM Balrampur for not filing the counter affidavit despite repeated orders for six years. The court called it the height of administrative apathy and non-cooperation. Angered by the continuous disregard of orders on the PIL filed in 2019, the court has directed to pay the compensation directly to the petitioners.
Lucknow: Lucknow Bench of Lucknow High Court of Uttar Pradesh has imposed a penalty of Rs 11,000 on DM Balrampur for not filing counter affidavit despite repeated orders for six years. Expressing displeasure, the court said that such non-cooperation and indifferent attitude of government officials is unacceptable. This amount will be paid to the petitioners.
Case pending for six years, High Court’s strict stance
This entire matter is related to a public interest litigation filed in the year 2019. In this petition filed by Nabi Ali and others, there was a demand for construction of a shed at a funeral site. While hearing the petition, for the first time on 8 November 2019, the High Court had directed DM Balrampur to file a ‘short reply affidavit’. But even after this, despite being given several opportunities, the affidavit was not filed.
Affidavit not filed even after giving time several times
The High Court also gave time to the DM on the following dates, 22 November 2019, 6 December 2019, 5 March 2020, but still no reply was given in the court till six years later. The High Court expressed strong displeasure over this attitude of the officers. The court said that non-cooperation is completely unacceptable, the High Court clearly stated in the order that
“Such an indifferent and non-cooperative attitude towards the orders of the court on the part of the government officials is unacceptable..” The court termed the DM’s non-submission of an affidavit for six years as an obstruction in the judicial process and took strict action and ordered the imposition of compensation.
Compensation of Rs 11 thousand will be given to the petitioners
The High Court has imposed a personal compensation of Rs 11,000 on DM Balrampur. This amount will be given directly to the petitioners. Further action is underway on the demand of the petitioners and the court has advised the administration to take the responsibility seriously.
