Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 29: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has come down heavily on senior Government officials for failing to comply with a writ court judgment, despite dismissal of their appeal.
Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, while hearing CCP(S) No. 364/2024 in WP(C) No. 2167/2021, observed that the respondents are in “recurring contempt” as they continue to delay implementation of the order even after the Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) filed by the Union Territory was dismissed.
The High Court noted that the Principal Secretary, Finance Department sought exemption from personal appearance through an affidavit sworn by an Under-Secretary, which was rejected as unacceptable. The application was later withdrawn unconditionally. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri appeared virtually in compliance with court directions.
Justice Wasim Nargal remarked that merely filing a review petition does not render the writ court judgment ineffective and the respondents were bound to implement the order “in letter and spirit.” The High Court granted the officials one last opportunity to comply, warning that failure to do so by the next date would compel the Court to frame a rule against them for contempt.
The matter has been listed for October 13, 2025, with a clear directive: if compliance is achieved before the hearing, the officials need not appear; otherwise, they must remain present in person.
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