Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has come down heavily on the state government, imposing a cost of ₹1 lakh on Principal Secretary R.D. Nazim for defying court orders.
The court made it clear that this amount must be paid personally by the official, not from the public exchequer.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya lambasted the government for wasting the court’s valuable time, asserting that the administration's conduct reflects a blatant disregard for judicial processes.
Referring to a Supreme Court ruling, the bench emphasized that unnecessary delays in implementing tribunal and court orders deprive petitioners of timely justice.
Chronology of Negligence
The issue traces back to 2017 when a tribunal ordered the regularization of contractual employees and recognition of their seniority for service benefits.
The state government challenged the decision repeatedly—first before a double bench of the High Court, then in the Supreme Court. Both rejected the government’s appeals. Despite these rulings, the orders remain unimplemented, forcing petitioners to file execution pleas in the High Court.
The court slammed the administration for its obstinate behavior, which has triggered nearly a thousand petitions from employees.
It highlighted the unjust delay in granting the rightful service benefits to petitioners, labeling the government’s approach as an unnecessary squandering of judicial and administrative resources.
Taxpayer Burden and Bureaucratic Apathy
During Thursday’s hearing, the government’s counsel defended the delay by arguing that promotion rights are fundamental but not absolute.
This claim did little to pacify the court, which underscored the needless litigation and financial burden placed on taxpayers due to the state’s persistent non-compliance.
“By dragging this matter through multiple appeals and still failing to act, the government is blatantly wasting public money and eroding citizens’ trust in the system,” the bench stated.
The Way Forward
The court reserved its verdict on the execution plea but issued a stern warning to the government about further delays.
It stressed that ignoring tribunal and court directives cannot be tolerated, especially when it directly impacts employees’ careers and livelihoods.
The imposition of ₹1 lakh as a personal penalty on Principal Secretary Nazim sends a strong signal to bureaucrats: accountability will no longer be an option but a mandate.
For taxpayers, however, the case stands as a grim reminder of how government apathy and negligence continue to fritter away public resources.
