By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Tuesday directed the government to immediately remove Mohammed Hamidullah Bhat as director of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).
A bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi also sought Bhat’s personal appearance to explain the reasons for non-compliance of the court order dated Dec 9 while restraining him from holding the office.
On Dec 9 last year, a division Bench of Acting Chief Justice A. K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw held that Bhat could not head NCPUL because he was overage and faced a corruption case.
“NCPUL should forthwith comply with the Dec 9, 2011 judgement and ensure that Bhat immediately seizes to be director of the council,” the court said while directing NCPUL to comply the earlier order.
Justice Sanghi’s order came on a contempt petition filed by Javed Rehmani saying that despite the high court’s order, Bhat has not vacated the post.
The court also issued contempt notice to the human resource development ministry (HRD) and NCPUL (which comes under the ministry). It also asked for a detailed affidavit, within a week, from the government indicating Bhat’s removal from the post and also to complete the departmental enquiry against him.
The court also restrained Bhat from taking any decision as council head or representing himself for the council.
The matter is posted for Feb 29.
In the petition, Rehmani had sought the court’s direction to the central government to sack Bhat because he was overage, and faced a probe for corruption. Bhat had even been arrested in 2005 in connection with the case, the petition stated.
The petition also stated that through a right to information application, it was found that as per service rules, the director’s tenure is fixed for three years but Bhat has been continuing for past 13 years in the same post without obtaining an extension.