In the first case, the Chief Court Officer of the HC had complained to senior UT public health officials that urinal pots were not installed at court number 24 repeated reminders to SDE Rajesh Bansal under whom the work was being carried out.

The Judge concerned had then asked the SDE to meet him. Bansal, however, did not turn up at the Judge’s chamber on the given date. An annoyed Chief Court Officer, on behalf of the Judge, then summoned the Executive Engineer, who complied. The Judge, expressing his displeasure, questioned the Executive Engineer as to why the SDE did not meet him. Sources in the Public Health Wing said the Executive Engineer, in a communication to Bansal, sought explanation for disobeying the court.

This is not the first time that Bansal has disregarded the High Court, which had issued a showcause notice to him for allotting water connections to Khuda Jassu village that falls outside Lal Dora.

Interestingly, the UT Administration, instead of hauling up Bansal, reportedly gave him the charge of several important public health projects worth crores.

The Administration has so far not issued any showcause notice to Bansal either despite the High Court seeking to know as to what action had been initiated against him.

While the Public Health Wing issued notices to the residents of Khuda Jassu village for disconnection of their illegal water connections, a latest communication dated December 28, 2007 indicates that the showcause notice to Bansal was still in the process of being drafted.

Internal communication of the Public Health wing has squarely blamed Bansal for sanctioning the connection.

Bansal, when contacted, said, “What do you want to know? I have not received any such notice or any such explanation call.” He disconnected the phone thereafter.

Meanwhile, former executive engineer Agastya Kumar, who retired from the Punjab Health Division Number 3 last week, when contacted, said, “I had very much sought Bansal’s explanation on the issue of his disobedience. He never bothered to reply to any letter. The Chief Engineer was to issue the showcause notice on the directions of court.”

Internal communication of the Public Health wing (presently in Newsline’s possession) also reveal that the Executive Engineer was asked to issue show-cause notices to residents of Khuda Jassu village, SDE Bansal and the Section Officer before November 26, 2007.