Retd judge to probe complaint against Sports Minister Ansari

Tribune news service

Srinagar, September 29

The Jammu  and Kashmir High Court has appointed a retired Principal District Judge as inquiry officer to look into a complaint of misbehaviour by PDP leader and Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari with Suhail Hussain Reshi, senior officer of the Lakes And Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA).

The orders were issued today by a Division Bench of the  High Court, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the preservation and conservation of the Dal Lake.

As alleged in his complaint, which was taken note of by the High Court in its orders dated August 22, the enforcement officer of LAWDA, a DSP-rank officer informed the LAWDA vice chairman that he received a phone call on August 2, with the caller identifying himself as Imran Ansari.

The minister reportedly asked the officer how he and his team demolished the illegally constructed structures at Lashkari Mohalla around Dal Lake. He reportedly used unparliamentary language and further threatened to kill the said officer.

 “This court is duty bound in all circumstances to enforce the law of the land. In order to reach a proper conclusion and to recommend any action, if required to be taken, it is deemed appropriate to get the complaint of Suhail Hussain Reshi filed against lmran Ansari inquired into by a retired District Judge,” the  Bench said in its orders.

“Syed Javed Ahmad, retired Principal District Judge, has given his consent through the Registrar, Judicial, to be designated as the inquiry officer,” the Bench said in its orders.

 Asking the inquiry officer to “start inquiry proceedings within one week” from the date copy of the orders was received by him, the High Court  further directed him to “file his report within five weeks” from today.

 The Chief Secretary of the state was asked to issue necessary orders for providing a vehicle, room, stenographer, clerk and one more person to him within one week.