CAT stops salaries of 30 top Govt officials  

Srinagar, Nov 24: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, has stopped the salaries of the top 30 government officials for not complying with the orders of the court. 

A statement of the CAT Jammu Bench issued here said that the order in this regard had been passed by the Division Bench headed by Rajinder Dogra, Judicial Member, and Ram Mohan Johri, Administrative Member. 

The salary of the Secretary of the General Administration Department has been stopped in six different cases. 

In the other four cases, the salary of the Director School Education Department has been stopped, and in yet other cases salary of the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu and Deputy Director Codes, Finance Department has been stopped. 

The court has stopped salaries in around 35 cases for not filing replies. 

The court took serious note that in each case, more than 10 opportunities had been granted to the respondents to file the reply in cases which are pending for more than two years, and the court has also granted two last opportunities to file reply failing which the erring officials were directed to remain present before the court.  Despite this, the respondents have not filed the reply, nor did they bother to appear before the court to explain why they have not filed it. 

The court took serious note in all these cases and stopped the salary of Chief Education Officer (CEO) Reasi in three cases, CEO Rajouri in four cases, CEO Kathua, CEO Ramban, CEO Samba, and CEO Udhampur in other cases. 

In the Health Department, the salary of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Reasi, CMO Rajouri, and Principal of Government Medical College was stopped. 

In the Power Development Department Jammu, the court has stopped the salary of Superintending Engineer Rajouri, Superintending Engineer (M&RE) Kathua, and Executive Engineers of Poonch, Kathua, and Jammu. 

In the Forest Department, salary of Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu was stopped along with Divisional Forest Officers of Samba, Udhampur and Bhaderwah. 

The salary of Conservator Forests, East Circle Jammu, Director of Finance and Ecology was also stopped. 

The court also stopped the salary of the Superintendent of District Jail Jammu and Chief Accounts Officer, GPF Police Cell and Joint Director, Funds Organisation Jammu.