HYDERABAD, Nov 20: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Monday ordered members of the Land Utilisation department and the Board of Revenue (registration stamps and evacuee property), Sindh secretaries of finance and irrigation, and the Jamshoro EDO (revenue) to file their explanation on December 4, on a contempt of court application.

The order said that if the court found that contempt of court had been committed then contempt proceedings would follow against the officials.

The bench comprising Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Maqbool Baqar passed the order on a contempt of court application filed by Jhamatmal Jethanand on behalf of 28 petitioners.

The petitioners requested the court to take action against members of a high-powered committee for violating the court’s September 14, 2004 order.

Lands of petitioners were acquired in connection with the Manchhar Lake in Yakubani, Fazlani, Maheji, Khabroth Rayati, Khabroth Jagir, Bilhan and Jaheja dehs in Sehwan taluka in 1986-87 by the Sindh government.

They informed that for the purpose of determining ownership rights of affected land-owners as well as compensation rates, the government appointed a high-powered committee, consisting of member land utilisation board of revenue, Sindh (chairman), secretary irrigation department, secretary finance and then deputy commissioner Dadu as members.

The committee asked the authorities to hold enquiries regarding ownership rights of affected farmers.

The Sindh High Court earlier through its order on December 24, 1998 directed respondents to convene meeting of high powered committee within one month and decide petitioners' matter and in case of positive approval compensation may be made to them within two months.

While hearing the matter again on September 14, 2004 a bench comprising Justice Ata-ur-Rehman and Justice Amir Hani directed the chief secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Dadu EDO (revenue) for showing indifferent attitude towards the court.

It also directed the committee to finalise petitioners’ claim within a period of 15 days failing which members of the committee shall appear in court, in person, with written explanation of non-compliance of the court order. In the same order the curt passed strictures against EDO revenue over his non-cooperation, as he failed to assist the court in tracing entries from the record.