Srinagar, July 7, KDC: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday gave the Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), and the Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, until Thursday to implement its judgment directing reinstatement of employees, warning that failure to do so would invite contempt proceedings.
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani observed that its judgment dated December 17, 2024, had attained finality after the Supreme Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed against it, leaving the respondents “no option… except to implement the same in its letter and spirit.”
The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by Nisha Musharaf and others alleging non compliance of the judgment.
Senior Advocate Z.A. Shah, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that despite the judgment attaining finality, the respondents had failed to reinstate the petitioners, which, he argued, was a condition precedent for holding a fresh inquiry in accordance with law.
Appearing in person, KVIB Secretary Basharat Ahmad told the Bench that he had taken up the matter with the government for issuance of appropriate instructions but had received no response, leaving him unable to reinstate the petitioners.
Taking note of the submission, the Bench directed the personal appearance of the Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, before the court on Thursday.
The court made it clear that if the judgment remained unimplemented by the next date of hearing, it would frame a Robkar and initiate contempt proceedings against both the KVIB Secretary and the Commissioner Secretary.
“We… make it clear that in case the judgment dated 17th December, 2024, has not been complied with by tomorrow, this Court shall be constrained to frame Robkar and initiate contempt proceedings against both the Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), and the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department,” the Bench said.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 8 at 2 pm. (KDC)
