Gujarat High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000, for the second time, on Ministry of Defence for not replying to its notice in connection with a petition seeking release of Prisoner of wars (POW) of the 1971 war with Pakistan.
A division bench of Justices Bhagwati Prasad and B N Mehta had on January 11 fined the Ministry of Defence Rs 10,000 for not filing appropriate reply to the same petition for over 10 years.
The petition was filed in 1999 by General Jagjit Singh Arora, who had sought direction from the court asking the Central government for release of the 54 POW of 1971 war languishing in Pakistan prison.
The petitioner also demanded adequate compensation for them and prayed that the POWs be treated as soldiers on duty and be given adequate compensation.
When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the counsel, representing the Ministry, moved an application to waive fine imposed earlier and sought one month's time for filing reply to Arora's petition.
The court, granting one month's time to file reply, said, "We adjourn the matter for one month with a stipulation that further cost (fine) of Rs 10,000 is imposed on the respondent-Union of India."
{{/usCountry}}The court, granting one month's time to file reply, said, "We adjourn the matter for one month with a stipulation that further cost (fine) of Rs 10,000 is imposed on the respondent-Union of India."
{{/usCountry}}The matter will come up for hearing on February 22.