CAT slaps Rs 5000 costs on J&K finance deptt officers

Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Jammu in O.A./1773/2025 order dated 21/04/2026 has granted final opportunity to the respondents (Finance Department) to file reply failing which the erring officer shall remain personally present before the court, otherwise coercive action would be taken against him, on the next date of hearing, i.e. 22.05.2026. In the same case the last opportunity had already been granted to the respondents vide order dated 12/03/2026.

In another case, O.A./1446/2024, Order dated 16/04/2026, court observed that despite grant of several opportunities, reply has not been filed on behalf of Respondents No. 3 & 4 (Finance Department). At the request of Mr. Rajesh Thapa, learned A.A.G., further 3 weeks time is granted to file the reply on behalf of Respondents No. 3 & 4 subject to payment of cost of Rs. 5000/- to be deposited in Advocates Welfare Fund of High Court of J&K and Ladakh. It is made clear that in case reply is not filed by the next date of hearing, salary of Respondents No. 3 & 4 would be attached on the next date of hearing. Case listed on 13.05.2026. Despite the coercive order, on the next date of hearing i.e. 13/05/2026, in the same case, the respondents failed to file the reply. The CAT Jammu Court No.: 1, observed that, at the request of learned A.A.G., further two weeks time is granted to file reply subject payment of cost of Rs. 5000/- to be deposited in the Funds of Bar Association of Hon’ble High Court of J&K. It is further directed that on next date, receipt with regard to the deposit of amount be produced alongwith reply.

Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of J&K, vide circular No. 08-JK(LD) of 2026 Dated: 12–05-2026, issued instruction regarding timely filing of objections /replies/ Counter Affidavits, LPAs / Writ Petitions/ SLPs before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and strict adherence to Instruction thereof. These instructions were in reference to order dated 22.04.2026 and 05.05.2026 passed by Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh in WP(C) No. 1618/2023 titled Ali Mohammad Wani vs.UT of JK and Ors.