As per a decision of the Punjab Revenue and Rehabilitation Department, Additional Deputy Commissioners (General) across the state would now also act as nodal officers for ensuring that replies or affidavits in the Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court are filed in a timely manner.

Sources said the decision was taken after it came to the notice of the government that replies were not being filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court cases on time. “The government observed that due to this delay, courts took adverse views, badly affecting the image of the government,” sources said.

The nodal officers have been instructed to file replies or affidavits — after getting them vetted from the appropriate authority — at least a week before the due date.

Deputy Commissioners have been asked to review the work of nodal officer on monthly basis.

Bathinda DC Rahul Tewari said, “Besides the court cases, we will also ensure that there are no delays in responding to bodies like the National Human Rights Commission, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and the Information Commission.”