INDIA. Uttar Pradesh: On Friday, the Supreme Court prolonged the interim stay on the Allahabad High Court order issuing non-bailable warrants (NBW) against a senior IAS officer and the Chief Executive Officer of Noida in a land acquisition case till further orders.
On the CEO’s plea, a bench consisting of Chief Justice N V Ramana, Justices J K Maheshwari, and Hima Kohli issued notices to 12 people, including the district magistrate and additional district magistrate of Noida, and asked for their responses.
“Issue notice. The NBW stayed by an earlier order may be continued until further orders. List in July,” said the bench.
The highest court was irritated by the high court’s issuance of an NBW because the IAS officer was late in coming before that court, and her lawyer had also requested a pass-over on her behalf.
“This is not the way,” the CJI said.
The panel further stated that land being taken away by the government without proper compensation has become routine. Meanwhile, Justice Murari was recused from hearing the case, another bench of Justices S A Nazeer and Krishna Murari prolonged the relief and adjourned the case until May 13.
“Since the matter is urgent, list the matter again on Friday after taking appropriate directions from the Chief Justice. Meanwhile, interim order to continue,” Justice Nazeer had said.
Against the high court’s order, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Uttar Pradesh official Ritu Maheshwari.
“This is a gross case where a lady appeared in the Allahabad High Court; her lawyer was present and sought a pass over. The high court issued the order asking her to appear and in custody,” Rohatgi, appearing for the IAS officer, said.
On Monday, the Supreme Court stated that Uttar Pradesh authorities approaching it in defiance of Allahabad High Court orders has become normal and does not respect the court’s directives.
The senior IAS officer, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), has appealed to the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court’s issuing of the NBW in a land purchase case.
The high court ruling was issued because the officer failed to appear in court on time.
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