Anantnag: In a significant judicial development, the Court of the Principal District Judge Anantnag, Mr. Tahir Khurshid Raina, has issued summons to the Commissioner Secretary, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, J&K, directing his personal appearance to explain why civil imprisonment should not be ordered against him for non-execution of multiple court decrees.
The court also summoned the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic Circle Anantnag, and the Executive Engineer, Flood Control Anantnag, directing all the officers who stand as judgment debtors to ensure their personal presence before the court on the next hearing date.
During the hearing of a series of execution petitions, Judge Raina remarked that “obtaining a decree is the easiest part of litigation, but its execution is the most difficult.” He emphasized that the judiciary, as a sentinel on the qui vive, must ensure that court decrees are implemented in letter and spirit, thereby ensuring that decree-holders receive the benefits legally due to them.
Taking serious note of the department’s failure to implement decrees pending for over five years, the court not only summoned the senior officials but also ordered attachment of their salaries. The court directed all concerned Treasury Officers to deposit the attached amounts before the court, after deducting the government-fixed subsistence allowance.
The case has been listed for further proceedings on November 17, 2025, with all summoned officers mandated to appear in person.