HC asks top JDA official to appear, pay costs from pocket

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Vice-Chairperson of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to appear before it and deposit Rs 25,000 as costs over non-compliance of its 2009 directive for demolition of a commercial complex within two years.
The direction was passed by a division bench comprising justices Virender Singh and Tashi Rabstan on an application filed by JDA's Vice-Chairperson (VC) Sushma Chouhan seeking extension of time, clarification and modification in its directions regarding the imposed cost.
Advocate SK Shukla opposed the application and stated that by the March 27, 2014 order, a last opportunity was granted to JDA to take all required steps for modification of lay out plan of Roop Nagar, Housing Colony.

He stated that the last opportunity was subject to the payment of cost of Rs 25000 to be deposited by VC JDA, not from the account of the Authority but from her own pocket.
After hearing Advocate SK Shukla, the bench dismissed the application filed by VC JDA and directed that she shall remain present in the court on next date of hearing along with costs of Rs 25,000, otherwise the court would take very harsh view in the matter.
The court had earlier taken serious note of the non-implementation of order dated November 10, 2009 directing the Jammu Development Authority to demolish the commercial complex within two years. It had directed Vice-Chairperson of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to appear before it and deposit Rs 25,000 as costs.