Jeelani Purza Urges LG, Chief Minister And Chief Secretary To Implement Court Order On Contractors’ Payments
DH NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar, Oct 3
The Jammu & Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC), under the chairmanship of Ghulam Jeelani Purza, has warmly welcomed the historic judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which has directed the Government to ensure the timely release of contractors’ payments within 60 days of bill submission, once all formalities are complete.
The Committee has described the ruling as a landmark step towards restoring faith in governance and ensuring justice, accountability, and transparency for thousands of contractors who have been waiting for their legitimate dues for years. This judgment has renewed hope among contractors who have long been struggling to receive their rightful payments.
Chairman Jeelani Purza praised the judgment, noting that it directly addresses the hardships faced by contractors due to the unnecessary withholding of payments. “The Hon’ble High Court has rightly pointed out that excuses like lack of funds or post-facto objections cannot be used to delay payments once the work has been executed as per the contract. This is a much-needed relief for contractors who have been suffering silently despite completing important public projects,” he said.
On behalf of the J&K Contractors Coordination Committee, Chairman Jeelani Purza made a strong appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Chief Secretary of J&K to immediately implement the J&K High Court’s order and ensure that all pending payments from 2014 to the present are released without further delay.
He revealed that approximately ?175 crore worth of payments are pending for years, despite completion of works and projects in R&B Department and departments. “These dues are the hard work of contractors and the completion of vital infrastructure for the public. Keeping such payments pending for years is unjust,” Purza stated.
Chairman Purza also drew urgent attention to the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), where contractors have not been paid for almost a year despite completing their work. He estimated that over ?1,100 crore is pending under JJM payments, which has created a financial crisis for hundreds of contractors and is slowing down public welfare projects.
He urged the Government to release all JJM payments immediately and ensure that future bills are cleared within the time frame fixed by the Hon’ble High Court.
The JKCCC further highlighted the problem of vacant posts in the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department, including those of Superintending Engineers (SEs), Executive Engineers and other key officials.
“Many posts remain vacant for months. Even though promotions have been made, the Government has not assigned these engineers to their posts. This creates unnecessary hurdles in file clearance and delays in both project execution and payments. Ultimately, the general public and contractors are the main sufferers,” Purza said.
Jeelani Purza emphasized that the High Court has shown the way by holding officials personally accountable for payment delays.
He urged the Government to strictly implement this accountability clause so that contractors are no longer harassed or forced to wait for years after completing their work.
The Jammu & Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee has expressed full hope that the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister & Chief Secretary and concerned departments will act swiftly to implement the judgment and bring much-needed relief to contractors.
“This is not just about contractors, it is about public infrastructure, development and the dignity of governance. Timely payments will strengthen trust and accelerate progress in Jammu & Kashmir,” Purza concluded.
