Srinagar, Jan 19: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the government to release security deposits worth more than 62 lakhs pending since 2020 along with all liabilities in favour of the firm for the contractual work executed in Jal Shakti department (JSD) within a period of four weeks.
Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi directed the Jal Shakti department to consider the representation filed by the firm, M/S Electrotherm Limited on December 01, 2022 before the respondents seeking release of four crore, one lac, seventy-three thousand and eight hundred thirty rupees for the contractual work executed by it from time to time.
However, the court directed the respondent department to consider the release of old security deposits worth Rs. 62,57,510 pending since 2020, along with all liabilities within a period of four weeks in favor of the petitioner firm.
The court passed the directions in a plea by a firm aggrieved of some outstandings pending with the Jal Shakti department against the contractual work allotted and executed by it.
The petitioner firm through counsel Manik Dutt submitted that some payments have been made to the petitioner from time to time against the total liability.
“However, an amount of 4,01,73,830 is still pending in favor of the petitioner and against the respondent department,” he submitted.
The court noted that liability in question has been admitted by the respondents and the release of payments has been deferred on one pretext or another.
Justice Kazmi pointed out that the petitioner has also moved a representation on December 01, 2022, before respondents for release of balance liability of 4,01,73,830 and respondents have not taken any decision in this regard.
“Having regard to what has been stated above, the present writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to consider and dispose of the representation dated 1st December, 2022, filed by the petitioner and also consider the release of old security deposits worth Rs. 62,57,510 pending since 2020, along with all liabilities within a period of four weeks positively from the date copy of this order is made available to them,” the court said.
