Citizens ‘Tormented’ By Non-Compliance Of Court Orders: HC

Srinagar, Sept 28: The hapless citizens are harassed and tormented by the officials by non-complying with court orders, Jammu and Kashmir High Court said on Monday.
Taking strong exception to the non-compliance of its order from last thirty five months by SKIMS authorities regarding recruitment of one Prakash Kour, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta noted that it was not the only case where such “contumacious conduct is observed.”
“In case after case, hapless citizens are harassed and tormented by the officials by non-complying with court orders,” the court said, adding, “A system is urgently required whereby online intra department notification of the details of the court order is effected.”
The court said that it was the responsibility of the office of the Advocate General and Secretary Law to create such system.
“They are required to communicate the copy of the court order to the authority/officer concerned as well. They are also required to ensure compliance.”
The entire system, the court said, appears to be steeped in “inefficiency and incompetency despite a veritable army of lawyers representing the respondents (officials)”.
“More serious is the agony and to a successful litigant and the public money which is being wasted in paying fees/charges to Government pleaders for their fruitless appearances in court to seek adjournment after adjournment, a deep rooted systemic malaise,” the court said.
Meanwhile, the court granted SKIMS authorities “one very last opportunity” to place compliance of its orders “subject to payment of costs of Rs.1500/- for every date they have taken an adjournment starting from 22nd of May, 2018 till date.”
“ The costs shall be deposited by the SKIMS authorities with the Jammu & Kashmir State Legal Services Authority within two weeks from today and the proof of deposit shall be brought on record,” the court added.