554 flood cases remain pending in IIOJK 12 years after 2014 disaster
Delay raises questions over consumer justice, administration’s apathy
Srinagar:In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), more than a decade after the devastating 2014 floods, 554 consumer cases related to the disaster remain pending before the concerned authorities, highlighting the prolonged delay in delivering justice to the victims.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the figures were revealed in an RTI reply by the IIOJK State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which said that 1,356 cases were still pending out of those taken up following its reconstitution under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The flood-related backlog is particularly concerning: 554 cases connected to the 2014 floods still unresolved, leaving victims waiting for relief 12 years after the disaster.
The RTI reply said the Commission inherited 1,738 cases from the erstwhile IIOJK State Consumer Commission and disposed of 815 cases between February 7, 2023 and March 31, 2026. However, it did not provide a detailed breakup of the disposed cases or clarify how many were decided on merits. The Commission also reported 360 new cases were filed during the last three years, of which 145 were disposed of.
In another significant revelation, sources familiar with the proceedings said notices in around 300 pending cases were issued only in 2026, nearly five years after the Commission was reconstituted. The development raises serious questions over the pace of case processing and the serving of notices during the intervening period.
The figures present uncomfortable picture: 554 flood-related consumer disputes remain unresolved 12 years after the disaster, while the Commission continues to carry a total backlog of 1,356 cases.
For thousands of consumers seeking relief through the statutory forum, the issue is no longer merely when their cases will be heard, but when they will finally be decided.
The prolonged pendency of these cases raises serious questions over the pace of consumer justice in IIOJK and the apparent indifference of the New Delhi-imposed administration towards the grievances of Kashmiris, despite its repeated claims of providing relief and ensuring good governance in the territory.
