Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Nov 20: The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday granted a two-day extension to the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) after its Deputy Municipal Commissioner appeared before the bench and tendered an unconditional apology in a contempt of court matter linked to writ petition No. 2078/2018, Rakesh Jha vs State of Jharkhand.
The matter was heard by the Chief Justice and Justice Rajesh Shankar.
The court had earlier directed the Deputy Municipal Commissioner to appear in person after observing that JNAC had failed to comply with multiple court orders.
At the outset of today’s hearing, the officer apologised for his conduct, prompting the bench to proceed with a detailed review of JNAC’s actions.
During the hearing, JNAC counsel Sumeet Gadodia argued that encroachment-related issues did not fall under JNAC’s jurisdiction.
The bench rejected this claim, reminding him that municipal law clearly places such responsibilities with JNAC.
The court pressed the civic body on its failure to file a comprehensive affidavit outlining actions taken against those who had encroached upon designated parking spaces and builders involved in unauthorised constructions.
The bench emphasised that these details were to be provided in a tabular format as previously ordered.
Reiterating earlier directions, the judges questioned why JNAC had not furnished the list of buildings granted completion certificates, those denied such certificates, and the names of buildings operating without completion certificates but receiving electricity and water connections.
The court further sought clarity on whether such buildings were being billed at commercial or domestic electricity rates.
When asked about compliance, JNAC’s counsel sought another opportunity to submit the required information.
Granting a final two-day extension, the court warned that failure to provide a complete affidavit this time would leave it with no option but to impose punishment on the Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
The matter will be heard next on November 26.
Advocates Akhilesh Srivastava and Neha Agrawal represented the petitioner.
