High Court Slaps Fine of Rs 25,000 on IAS for Delay in Appearing

The Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on principal secretary, forests, for default on framing of UP Special Tiger Protection Service Rules & for keeping the court waiting for hearing.

A bench of Justice MN Bhandari & Justice Manish Kumar passed the order on a pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved in 2016 for protection of tigers. A tiger protection force was constituted way back in 2013 but the rules haven't been framed till date.

On Jan 7, the court had directed the officials to frame the rules or else the principal secretary (forest) & chief conservator of forests/field director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (Kheri) would have to appear before it on Feb 17.

On the day of hearing, the chief conservator appeared & said the rules couldn't be framed.

The principal secretary (forest), however, was busy in the assembly session, his counsel said.

While the court was about to issue a contempt notice, the counsel said the secretary was on his way.

The court granted half an hour to the secretary while imposing fine of Rs 25,000 for wasting its time.

The secretary informed the court that the process of framing rules was taking time due to other departments & sought three months for completion, which the court granted.

Source Link