Bank directed to deposit money from Punjab IAS officers’ joint account

Chandigarh, October 13, 2013-Peeved with non payment of 'professional fees' of their architect, despite court directions a local court attached the joint bank account of 16 IAS officers, of Punjab cadre. A lower court has directed the concerned bank to deposit Rs 2.8 lakh from the joint account of the IAS officers with the court. Directions have been passed on a petition filed by M/s Architect Yetinder Mathur, a local company which had designed a housing complex in Sector 48 for the Punjab State IAS officers Cooperative Housing Society. In 1999, the company was vested with the task to design the housing complex for the IAS officers.

Around Rs 8 lakh as 'professional fees' was finalised.
The company, through its partner Tarun Mathur, moved the court in 2002 after the IAS officers allegedly refused to pay the outstanding amount of Rs 1 lakh. Though the outstanding amount, according to the petitioner, was Rs 2 lakh, the amount was brought down to Rs 1 lakh as the company offered 'discount'.

After seven years of litigation in 2009, a lower court allowed the company's petition directing the IAS officers society to pay the outstanding amount. Much to the company's regret the amount was not paid. Another petition, seeking execution of court orders, was filed. Till now, the company alleges that the money has not been paid by the IAS officers society. Aggrieved, the architect moved an application seeking directions to attach property of the society as a punitive measure so that the outstanding money is paid.

Initially, it was decided to attach the property of 'sub station' (source of high voltage electric supply to the IAS officers society) but later the company submitted details of the joint bank account of the society. Taking note, the court directed the manager, Chandigarh State Cooperative Bank, Sector 17-B to deposit Rs 2.8 lakh (outstanding amount plus interest) from the joint bank account of IAS officers with the court.

The same will be paid to the petitioner by the court. Some of the IAS officers, who are members of the said society are MP Singh, secretary to Governor Punjab, NS Kalsi, joint secretary, Home, GoI, Vishwajit Khanna, Kalpana Mittal Barua etc.