Patiala court orders seizure of municipal corporation building, assets over ex-staffer's dues

PATIALA: A local court here has ordered the attachment of the municipal corporation's office building, the civic commissioner's official car and office assets, including furniture, computers, printers, fans and ACs, for failing to clear Rs 3.2 lakh dues to the family of a deceased Class IV employee. The bailiff is to execute the warrant by July 23.

The court set the next hearing for July 27, with an order to the corporation to clear the dues or face further action, including potential auction of the attached properties.

Denied promotions, Varinderjit retired in 2018 at same position he was hired in

The order was passed by the civil judge (junior division), Patiala.

Advocate Puneet Sharma, who represented the petitioner, said the deceased employee, Varinderjit Singh, was recruited in 2000 but dismissed in 2001 due to a pending case. After a prolonged legal battle, Punjab and Haryana high court ruled in his favour in 2017 and ordered the civic body to reinstate him and pay him allowances and interest retrospectively for the period he was removed from service.

The corporation moved Supreme Court, where its appeal was dismissed, and it had to reinstate Varinderjit. His lawyer contended that Varinderjit was denied promotions and proficiency step-up benefits, forcing him to retire in 2018 at the same position where he was hired.

Varinderjit passed away in 2021, leaving his adopted son, Samanjot Singh, to fight for the unpaid dues.

Despite repeated orders, the corporation released only a partial payment of Rs 60,485 as principal, leaving over Rs 3.2 lakh, including interest, unpaid. On July 2, the court issued a final warning to the corporation, which went unheeded, leading to Wednesday's order.

The court set the next hearing for July 27, with an order to the corporation to clear the dues or face further action, including potential auction of attached properties. "The court's decision sends a strong message to govt bodies that flouting orders will have serious consequences. If dues remain unpaid, the court may order sale of attached properties," said advocate Sharma.

Civic commissioner Paramvir Singh said, "Our legal team is looking into the matter. As per the legal team, the court has issued a warrant of attachment and not attached the property."

In addition to the corporation building and the commissioner's car, the court has ordered the attachment of office assets that include 20 fans, 30 chairs, four coolers, three ACs, 10 almirahs, five tables, four computers, and three printers.