Mini-golf case: SC reprimands CDA for ignoring 7-year-old order
2006 ruling for restoration of pubic park yet to be implemented.
Chief Justice expressed his astonishment as to why CDA had not take action against those officers, who connived with a private party to convert the public park into a golf course. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to furnish names of officers responsible for not implementing its verdict in the mini-golf case.
Earlier on February 2, 2006, the Supreme Court termed the lease agreement (dated June 4,2005) between the CDA and a private party to turn the Jubilee Park, Sector F-7 into a mini golf course illegal, declaring it contrary to the fundamental rights of the public. The civic agency was also directed to take action against those involved in the gaffe.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sh Azmat Saeed was conducting the hearing of the non-implementation case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry expressed his astonishment as to why the CDA had not take action against those officers, who connived with a private party to convert the public park into a golf course.
Afnan Karim Kundi, the counsel for CDA, informed the bench that the alleged officers in the matter were on deputation at that time who now have gone back to their parent departments.
He said now it was the duty of the departments concerned to take action against them. The chief justice said that under the administrative rules, the officials should have been suspended by the CDA, and it was the responsibility of the civic agency to initiate an action against them. Only then their parent departments could have carried out action against them, the CJ said.
Chaudhry further said that even after seven years of the court’s verdict, no headway has been made towards taking action against those responsible. He asked the CDA counsel whether the seven-year time period was not enough for implementing the verdict.
Later, the court granted 10-days time (to the CDA) for furnishing names of the delinquent officers and adjourned the case.
Additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to furnish names of officers responsible for not implementing its verdict in the mini-golf case.
Earlier on February 2, 2006, the Supreme Court termed the lease agreement (dated June 4,2005) between the CDA and a private party to turn the Jubilee Park, Sector F-7 into a mini golf course illegal, declaring it contrary to the fundamental rights of the public. The civic agency was also directed to take action against those involved in the gaffe.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sh Azmat Saeed was conducting the hearing of the non-implementation case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry expressed his astonishment as to why the CDA had not take action against those officers, who connived with a private party to convert the public park into a golf course.
Afnan Karim Kundi, the counsel for CDA, informed the bench that the alleged officers in the matter were on deputation at that time who now have gone back to their parent departments.
He said now it was the duty of the departments concerned to take action against them. The chief justice said that under the administrative rules, the officials should have been suspended by the CDA, and it was the responsibility of the civic agency to initiate an action against them. Only then their parent departments could have carried out action against them, the CJ said.
Chaudhry further said that even after seven years of the court’s verdict, no headway has been made towards taking action against those responsible. He asked the CDA counsel whether the seven-year time period was not enough for implementing the verdict.
Later, the court granted 10-days time (to the CDA) for furnishing names of the delinquent officers and adjourned the case.
Additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.