Hearing on a public interest litigation filed against the strike by Patwaris and Lekhpals, the high court has asked the Revenue secretary, Kumaon commissioner and Nainital district magistrate about the steps which can be taken to resolve the problem. The court has also asked as to what action can be taken against the Patwaris and Lekhpals on strike. The said officials have been directed to inform the court in one day. The case will be taken up for hearing on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the PIL was taken up for hearing by the division bench of chief justice Ramesh Ranganathan and justice Narayan Singh Dhanik. Haldwani resident Navin Kapil had filed the PIL stating that the government had failed to resolve the strike of the Patwaris and Lekhpals which had been underway for about three months. The strike has been causing problems for the common people while various types of services are also being disrupted. Even income certificates are not being issued, due to which children from economically weaker sections are not being able to secure admissions on seats reserved in schools under the Right To Education Act. Pulling up the State government for its lethargy on this issue, the high court has asked the Revenue secretary, Kumaon commissioner and Nainital district magistrate to explain by Thursday as to what alternative arrangement is being made for issuance of income certificate and what action will be taken against the Patwaris and Lekhpals on strike. It is being stated that due to the strike, more than 10,000 income certificates and 16,000 applications for mutation are pending. Under the Right To Service Act implemented by the State Government, income certificate is to be issued within maximum of 15 days of the application being submitted.