Srinagar, Oct 11, KDC: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued a series of strict directives, including bailable warrants and personal appearance orders against several senior government officials, after observing repeated non-compliance with court rulings in multiple cases.
Justice Javed Iqbal Wani issued bailable warrants against Mandeep Kour, Commissioner/Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), for failing to appear before the court and explain why she should not be punished for contempt.
The court noted that neither Kour nor any representative appeared on her behalf, prompting the issuance of bailable warrants worth ₹10,000 to secure her presence at the next hearing. The concerned SSP has been directed to execute the warrants.
Justice Wani observed that the official had earlier made a “contemptuous statement” by claiming that the court’s order to fill vacant Executive Engineer posts in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) could not be implemented due to “non-availability of posts.” The court said her claim was false and misleading, pointing to government records showing the posts did exist, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
“The contemnor is found to have committed contempt of court by disobeying the judgment and filing a false affidavit,” the order noted.
In another contempt case, Justice Wani also summoned the Executive Engineer, PHE Department, after granting a brief deferment of proceedings on the contemnor’s undertaking to pay ₹3 lakh out of ₹4 lakh in arrears due to the petitioner. The court, however, directed that the officer must appear in person on the next hearing.
Meanwhile, in separate proceedings, Justice Rahul Bharti has sought personal appearance of the Deputy Commissioner and Collector Land Acquisition, Anantnag, after finding that compensation funds—already deposited by the PMGSY authorities—had not been disbursed to rightful landowners.
“The Collector has the requisite funds but is not releasing them. Petitioners are being made to suffer as beggars before the authorities,” the court remarked, calling the officials’ conduct “unjustified and in defiance of judicial authority.”
Additionally, the court has also summoned the Tehsildar of Batamaloo, Srinagar, for allegedly violating a stay order by resealing a poultry farm that the court had explicitly ordered to remain open.
The High Court’s strong stance signals a rare and sweeping crackdown on bureaucratic indifference and non-compliance in Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming judicial supremacy over administrative inaction. (KDC)
