The Allahabad High Court has asked the Central
government to clarify within four weeks whether it has powers to extend
or relax the date for submission of annual returns of assets and
liabilities of the Central government employees, including IAS and IPS
officers under the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Act.
Rule making power
“We
are of the view that it is necessary for the court to be apprised of
the position of the Union Government on whether the period which has
been prescribed statutorily under Section 44 (4) can be relaxed or
extended by means of the rule making power,” said the Lucknow bench of
the High Court.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice
Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud and Justice Rajan Roy directed the
Central government to file a counter affidavit (reply) within four weeks
in this matter.
IPS officer’s petition
The
directive came on a petition filed by suspended IPS officer Amitabh
Thakur who raised the issue that the last date for filing annual
property returns by public servants was extended again and again.
Quoting
various provisions of section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013,
the petitioner said every public servant is supposed to provide the
property returns of himself along with his spouse and family members by
31st July every year.
He sought direction for the
Central government to explain on what basis it extended the last date of
submission of annual assets return.
Extended six times
The
petitioner alleged that the last date for 2013-14 has been extended six
times and that for 2014-15 has been extended 3 times and recently it
was extended once again on 12 April 2016 for the same, which was
improper.
The court fixed May 18 as the next date of hearing the matter. - PTI
Source : http://www.thehindu.com/
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