Shimla, April 7 -- In a sharp rebuke to the state machinery, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 10 lakh on the Himachal Pradesh government for failing to act on directions regarding strengthening judicial infrastructure, observing that the assurances given were nothing more than "hollow promises."

Taking serious note of prolonged inaction, a division bench headed by Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia said that despite the lapse of nearly three months, "not even a leaf has moved" to implement earlier directions for the creation of courts and judicial posts.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation titled Court on its own motion vs State of HP and others concerning the lack of adequate judicial infrastructure in ...