For non-compliance of its directions,the Punjab and Haryana High Court has slammed Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner (DC) P C Meena by saying that such an attitude cannot be tolerated. The remarks came in connection with the courts July 4 order when it had stated that it will be the personal responsibility of DC Gurgaon to ensure that court notices are served to private builders in Gurgaon. Now,Meena has been asked to appear before the court on August 3 to explain why notices have not been served to the builders. The court also issued fresh notices to 21 builders on Monday. Three months ago,the high court had served notices on a bunch of petitions filed by villagers in Gurgaon,who had alleged that without having the authority to allow exchange of land,two senior IAS officers had sanctioned the exchange of 150 kanals of land to private builders. Despite repeated issuance of notices,none for the builders turned up before the court. Peeved,the court,on July 4 had asked the DC to ensure that the notices were served to the builders. Despite the order,the DC submitted no report in this regard before the court on Monday. Taking stern note of this,a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice R K Jain held that it seems that the DC has not shown any interest in the issue. The Indian Express was the first to report earlier this week that the high court had reprimanded two senior IAS officers of Haryana Anil Kumar and S C Goel,both directors of state Consolidation Fund. The two have also been asked to appear before the court on August 3. Senior lawyer Ashish Aggarwal,counsel for the petitioners,had alleged that as per rules,the director (Consolidation) does not have the power to allow exchange of land of gram panchayats to builders.
