Shimla, June 27 -- The Himachal Pradesh High Court has come down heavily on the State Taxes and Excise Department OVER not filing timely replies in court proceedings, warning that continued non-compliance could result in the replacement of senior officials, including the Commissioner or Law Officers.

Hearing a petition filed by HM Steels Ltd. against the Union of India and others (CWP No. 6739 of 2025), a Division Bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja expressed strong displeasure over the repeated delay in filing replies despite multiple extensions granted.

"It has been repeatedly observed that replies from the department of State Taxes and Excise are not being filed within the time granted or even in ...