COCP No.2278 of 2009 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. COCP No.2278 of 2009 Date of Decision: 5.2.2010 Kallo Devi .....Petitioner Vs. D.S. Bains and others ....Respondents .... CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAJIVE BHALLA **** Present : Mr. B.S. Mittal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. M.C. Berry, Addl.A.G. Punjab, for respondents no.1,2 and 4. .... RAJIVE BHALLA, J (Oral) As payment has been made to the petitioner, the contempt petition has been rendered infructuous. With respect to the petitioner's grievance that she should be paid interest, liberty is granted to seek appropriate remedy in accordance with law. Additional affidavit of Sh. S.K. Sharma, IAS, Director, local Government, Punjab, Chandigarh, filed in court today, is taken on record. The affidavit discloses that Municipal Corporations/Councils are in debt to the tune of Rs.149.62 crores. This figure includes retiral benefits due to employees. The failure of Municipal Councils, Government departments and Corporations to pay their admitted debts have inundated this court with writ petitions and contempt petitions clamouring for payment of retiral COCP No.2278 of 2009 2 benefits, admitted amounts due to Government contractors to name only a few. It would, therefore, be appropriate to direct the Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, Chandigarh, to look into the matter personally, examine the causes for this serious malady and ensure redressal of grievances expeditiously. Rule is discharged. Disposed of accordingly. A copy of this order be handed over to Mr. M.C. Berry, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, under signatures of the Special Secretary of this court for onward transmission to the Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, Chandigarh. .2.2010 (RAJIVE BHALLA) GS JUDGE