High court issues NBW against Mathura DM

PRAYAGRAJ : The Allahabad high court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Mathura district magistrate, Navneet Chahal, for non- compliance of its order by which it had directed him to pay pension to four state government employees.

The court directed the police to produce Chahal before it on May 12 for “disrespecting” the court’s September 2021 order.

Justice Saral Srivastava passed the order on a petition filed by Braj Mohan Sharma and three others, whereby the CJM concerned was directed to ensure that the Mathura DM shall be produced in police custody on the next date fixed.

Earlier, the court, on a writ petition, had directed officers concerned to pay the pension of petitioners as per law.

However, they were not paid the pension.

On February 11, 2022, the court issued notices to the district magistrate to comply with the order, and in case of noncompliance, to remain present before it.

During the course of hearing, the court was apprised that pension was not paid to petitioners because a review application was filed by the state government seeking review of the court’s earlier order to grant pension to petitioners, and because review application was pending before court, therefore till the disposal of review petition , pension couldn’t be granted to petitioners.

The court observed, “…in such glaring facts where the order of this court has been violated with impunity, this court cannot shut its eyes, and to uphold the majesty and dignity of the court so that confidence of public may not erode in judicial system, this court finds it to be a fit and appropriate case in which nonbailable warrant is issued against the Mathura district magistrate, who shall be produced in police custody on the next date fixed.”