Srinagar: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has come down heavily on the Union Territory administration for repeatedly failing to file replies in court cases on time, terming the conduct as casual and detrimental to the justice delivery system.
Hearing a petition titled Ali Mohammad Wani vs UT of J&K, the High Court observed that despite multiple opportunities since June 2023, the respondents failed to file their response, ultimately leading to closure of their right to reply.
Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal noted that even after specific directions, the concerned authorities neither produced the record nor ensured proper representation before the court, reflecting what the court described as “scant respect” for judicial orders.
The court flagged the issue as systemic, pointing out that such delays are not isolated but prevalent across multiple cases involving the government. It said the persistent failure to file timely replies contributes significantly to case backlogs and hampers the efficient administration of justice.
In strong observations, the bench stressed that compliance with court orders is a “constitutional imperative” and not a matter of discretion, warning that any indifference undermines public confidence in the judicial system and weakens the rule of law.
The court also acknowledged that government law officers have been issuing reminders to departments, but the required inputs and para-wise comments are often not provided in time, leaving counsel unable to defend cases effectively.
Calling for accountability, the court directed that responsibility be fixed on officers who fail to provide timely replies, leading to adverse orders against the government.
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, the court has now ordered the personal appearance of the Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, on the next date of hearing. The Secretary has been asked to explain the steps being taken to ensure proper defence of government cases and prevent such lapses in future.
The Registry has also been directed to forward the order to the Law Secretary for immediate action, with instructions to establish a time-bound mechanism for prompt transmission of records, timely filing of replies, and effective monitoring of pending cases.
