Srinagar, July 30 -- Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has strongly criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration for failing to grant timely permission to international canoeing judge Bilquis Mir to officiate at the Canoe Sprint World Cup in Hungary, observing that the delay "damaged India's reputation as a nation."

In a strongly worded order, Justice Rahul Bharti summoned Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Shahid Choudhary, to personally appear before the court on August 3 to explain why its earlier direction granting Mir provisional permission was not implemented.

The order came while hearing a writ petition filed by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association along with a contempt petition file...