District Collector’s car, AC, furniture attachment case: Orders revoked after tehsildar office gives payment assurance

Jalandhar, August 22

In a case dating back to 2016, the court of Civil Judge Manik Kaura had ordered the attachment of a car of the District Collector, Jalandhar, his fan, AC, furniture other fixtures in his office and retiring room for defaulting on dues worth Rs 2.36 lakh to litigants for eight years.

As the case came up for hearing again today, the orders were revoked after the tehsildar office gave a submission, assuring the litigants the payment of their dues with interest.

The orders were passed upon filing of a suit by three brothers Mukhtiar Singh, Raghuvir Singh and Gurinder Singh for directing the Revenue Department, District Collector, Jalandhar, and Tehsildar Sales for payment of Rs 2.36 lakh along with Rs 1.13 lakh as 12 per cent interest.

The matter pertains to a dispute regarding a land measuring 54 kanal situated in Bansian village which was in possession of the brothers. The land was ordered to be handed over to Satpal in October 2016. Since the brothers were in possession of the land and had sown crop, it was ordered that they be paid Rs 2.36 lakh by Satpal as compensation.

The amount had been deposited by Satpal in State Bank of India in October 2016 in the account of the Revenue Department but no information was given to Mukhtiar Singh and his brothers. It was two years later that they got information of the amount lying with the state exchequer. They made a request to the officials for the compensation giving details of receipts from the bank but to no avail and hence file suit for execution of the court orders.

The court observed that the payment had not been made by the authorities. They case was decided in favour of Mukhtiar Singh exparte. Hence, the court had proceded against the District Collector and Tehsildar Sales for realisation of the decreetal amount.

The court had thus attached the Toyota Innova car of the District Collector, Jalandhar, fan, AC, furniture other fixtures in his office and that of the Tehsildar and retiring room. It, however, had refrained from attaching their salary account. Even a bailiff had been directed to execute the warrant of attachment and return warrants of attachment within 15 days. But finally, the officials heaved a sigh of relief.