LAHORE: An irrigation department official has filed a complaint with the Kot Addu Saddar police to lodge a criminal case against an additional district and sessions judge who has allegedly occupied the official residence of a woman officer.

The executive engineer of Taunsa Headworks Division, Kot Addu in a separate letter also requested the Lahore High Court registrar to initiate an action against Kot Addu’s judge for misuse of authority.

He alleged that the judicial officer had illegally occupied the government residence of an officer of the irrigation department with the help of police.

“It is reported with great concern and sorrow that Additional Sessions Judge Kot Addu District Muzaffargarh, has illegally, unlawfully, unauthorizedly and forcefully along with judiciary staff and police entered in TP Link Canal Colony Kot Addu, broken the locks of gates of residence B1-3, entered in the house, deputed police around the residence and made it like an enclave on Sept 30 at around 9pm,” reads the letter written to the LHC.

The irrigation department officer said the residence was allotted to one of the four women officers. “After that incident, I directed Rana Tahir, Sub Engineer Lashari Section/Colony and Mahr Riaz Hussain, Sub Engineer, to meet Additional Sessions Judge and request him to stop this illegal and unlawful action and vacate the residence.”

He said the judge threatened them with dire consequences and asked them to leave the place within no time. When he reported the incident to police helpline 15, no helpful response was received from police,” reads the letter.

He said the judge had also illegally resided the rest house of TP Link Canal Colony from the last week of June to Sept 30 last. He was requested several times to deposit room rent but he neither deposited a single penny nor did he vacate the rest house and incurred a loss to the government amounting to Rs139,500.

“It is humbly prayed to take legal action against the judge for using his authority unlawfully and forcefully for his personal means/gains and incurring loss to the government and get the residence B1-3 of TP Link Colony vacated,” said the letter.

In the complaint submitted with the Kot Addu Saddar police, the complainant demanded registration of a case against the judge and vacation of the house through police.

“It is further requested to remove the police force deployed at the said residence for the protection of illegal and unlawful act of the judge,” the complainant demanded.

The judge declined to comment when this reporter contacted him for his version.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2021