Jammu & Kashmir High Court Demands Swift Action in Arms Licenses Scam Case
The Arms Licenses Scam involving high-ranking IAS/JKAS Officers has once again grabbed the attention of the Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. In a recent development, the court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking prosecution sanctions in corruption cases related to the arms license scam. However, concerns have been raised over the sluggish response from the government.
The PIL, presented virtually by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed and Advocate Rahul Raina, highlighted the government’s failure to submit a timely status report as per previous directives. Notably, the court had set a deadline for the report to be submitted by June 2, 2023, which the government failed to meet. This delay has drawn increased attention given the wide public importance and potential national security implications associated with the multi-crore Arms Licenses Scam.
While the prosecution sanctions had been granted for JKAS officers, the process for IAS Officers seemed to be caught in bureaucratic delays. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), GOI, had previously identified deficiencies in the government’s prosecution sanction proposal and requested the J&K government to address them.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh expressed concern over the government’s inaction. Senior Advocates S.S. Nanda and Monika Kohli, representing the Government of J&K, sought an additional two weeks to comply with the court’s directives from June 2nd. The Division Bench granted the extension, emphasizing the importance of prompt action and directing the respondents to fulfill their obligations in accordance with the court’s orders.
The involvement of the central government in the matter was also indicated by the appearance of DSGI Vishal Sharma on behalf of DoPT, GOI. The public interest implications of the case were duly recognized by the Division Bench, instructing the Registry to reschedule the PIL for September 20, 2023, when the matter will be revisited. However, the delay in this high-profile case continues to raise questions about the efficiency of the legal and administrative processes involved.
It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the court’s directives and whether swift action will be taken in prosecuting those involved in the Arms Licenses Scam. As the case resurfaces in September, stakeholders will closely monitor the progress and outcomes. The nation looks to the judiciary and government to ensure transparency and accountability, particularly in cases with wide public importance and potential national security implications.
