SC fines Satyendar Jain for not naming non-cooperating babus

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was on fined Rs 25,000 by the Supreme Court for not disclosing names of officials, accused by him of not cooperating with the AAP government in containing the menace of dengue and chikungunya in the national Capital.

“When people are dying in Delhi, you don’t need 24 hours to file an affidavit,” the apex court said as it lashed out at Jain’s counsel who had sought time till tomorrow to file the affidavit containing these names.

“Why have you not given the names and evidences on affidavit? You have made very serious allegations against them. You deposit Rs 25,000 by on Monday as cost for not filing the affidavit with legal service authority,” a bench of Justices M B Lokur and D Y Chandrachud said and listed the matter for tomorrow.

The apex court had on Friday taken strong exception to Jain’s allegation that officials were not cooperating or taking responsibility to check vector-borne diseases in the national Capital and had asked him to give names and evidence of such officials by on Monday.

Senior advocate Chirag Uday Singh, appearing for Jain, said he did not get time to file affidavit as the court had given a “short period”. He also said the government was doing everything possible to check vector-borne diseases.

“We deliberately gave you short period of time. It is a very serious matter. People are dying of the disease. You had made allegations against the officials but still you did not file an affidavit. You should have filed it by Saturday,” the bench said.

Singh said the matter be listed tomorrow and sought another 24 hours to file the affidavit, saying the bonafide of the minister should not be questioned.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar sought the court’s permission to file an affidavit on behalf of Delhi health secretary saying certain facts needed to be placed before the bench. The court gave liberty to Kumar to file the affidavit.

An affidavit filed by Jain in response to notices issued to Delhi government on a PIL, which was taken suo motu cognisance of by the apex court, said no official has come forward to take responsibility, even to file an affidavit on the measures taken to curb dengue and chikungunya.