Srinagar, April 15 -- Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday held that the government cannot compel contractors to seek judicial redress for enforcement of admitted claims, underscoring the need for an effective and time-bound mechanism to ensure prompt payment of such liabilities.

A Bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal made the observation while directing the authorities to release Rs 47.47 lakh in admitted dues to a local contractor.

".this Court deems it appropriate not only to grant relief to the petitioner (contractor), but also to reiterate the position already enunciated by this Court in M/s Saint Soldier Engineers & Contractors Pvt. Ltd. vs. Union Territory of J&K & Ors., that the State is under an obligation to ...