Difficult admissions: Contempt of court proceedings sought against DC

Says Riaz Mehsud, other officials violated court orders on student domiciles .

PESHAWAR:

A contempt of court petition was filed at Peshawar High Court against the deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and tehsildar for violating orders on the procedure of issuing domiciles for students.

The petition was filed by former PHC Bar Association President Muhammad Isa Khan who made DC Riaz Khan Mehsud, AC Mumtaz Ahmad and Tehsildar Arshad Khan the respondents. “The petition is filed under Section 204 of the Constitution to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents and award them deterrent punishment,” read the petition.

Isa Khan said as interim relief, the high court had ordered the admission of eligible students without requiring a domicile certificate. The order was followed for two years and no violation was reported.

New authority

He pointed out after a number of meetings, it was decided domicile forms would be attested by either a gazetted officer of BPS-16, secretary of the relevant union council, a local government union council member, a notified lambardar, an MNA, MPA or a senator. The minutes of the meeting for the new format were produced before the high court on May 20 and the petition was accepted.

“The three officials in the petition have reverted to the old procedure of forcing students to verify domiciles from a patwari, girdawar, tehsildar before presenting it to the DC,” the former PHCBA president stated.

He added the order of the court was passed in the presence of district government representatives and the additional advocate general. Isa Khan said the process allowed officials to make money through the patwari culture.

“The students and their parents are again being forced to stand in long queues at the offices of the DC, AC and revenue officials while they fast. The conduct of the respondents is in violation of the court,” the petition read.

The court was requested to initiate contempt proceedings against the three respondents and punish them according to the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2015.