Himachal Pradesh High Court Summons Sriganganagar DC in Pong Dam Displaced Rehabilitation Case, Warns of Strict Action

In a significant legal development addressing long-pending welfare cases, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a stern directive requiring the District Collector (DC) of Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, to make a personal appearance before the court. The high-stakes hearing centers around the complex execution petition concerning the proper rehabilitation and settlement of Pong Dam displaced families. The division bench made it crystal clear that failure to comply with the mandatory appearance date will invite strict coercive and punitive legal actions to ensure administrative accountability.Division Bench Issues Strict Directive for September 23The high-profile order was delivered by a division bench comprising Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Chirag Bhanu Singh during ongoing proceedings on the execution petition. Reviewing the protracted delays in resolving the grievances of Pong Dam oustees, the court underscored the necessity of direct official engagement. The bench formally mandated that the Sriganganagar District Collector must be present in the courtroom on the next scheduled hearing date of September 23, 2026, to provide concrete explanations regarding the implementation status of rehabilitation measures.Administrative Grounds for Exemption and Court RulingsDuring the proceedings, legal representatives for the District Collector moved an official application seeking exemption from personal appearance. The plea cited administrative hurdles stemming from the announcement of local body elections in Rajasthan, noting that active scrutiny of nomination papers required the DC's direct supervision on the ground. Previously, the officer had been granted temporary exemption by the high court during the July 2026 monsoon session. Weighing the current circumstances, the bench accepted the temporary relief but firmly fixed September 23, 2026, as the final, non-negotiable date for personal attendance, signaling zero tolerance for further administrative delays in securing justice for displaced citizens.