In a significant order, a Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (through Virtual Mode) comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal has granted last opportunity to the Estates Department to furnish a specific affidavit as regards to the concrete steps taken to address the concerns/grievances and more particularly the final decision to be taken on the recommendations of the Designated Committee which had held its meeting on Feb. 28, 2025 and had reviewed the matter regarding continuation of Government Accommodation with regard to the two politicians, namely, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Former Chief Minister of the erstwhile J&K State and Ravinder Raina, Former President, BJP J&K.
After hearing Advocate S.S. Ahmed appearing for the petitioner in the much publicized PIL (PIL No.17/2020) seeking eviction of politicians including Former CM/Former MPs/Former Ministers/Former MLAs/MLCs who have been over-staying in the Government Accommodation whereas Vishal Bharti, Dy. AG vice S.S.Nanda Sr. AAG appeared for the Estates Department, the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Arun Palli took note of the submissions made by Advocate S.S.Ahmed and granted last opportunity to Dy. AG Vishal Bharti to furnish a specific affidavit with regard to address the concerns/grievances that are sought to be raised in the petition.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed vociferously argued that the Designated Committee headed by IGP (CID) had met on 28.02.2025 and till date the Competent Authority in the Estates Department has not taken a final decision with regard to two high profile politicians despite grant of last opportunity earlier on 27.05.2025 when the Division Bench had observed that in case the latest Status Report in terms of order dated 26.03.2025 is not filed failing which the Chairman of the Designated Committee would appear before the Court by the virtual mode.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed further submitted that despite last opportunity the Estates Department in their updated Status Report dated 04.07.2025 have further sought reasonable time to place the final compliance report before the Division Bench. He further submitted that orders of the Division Bench are being taken lightly by the Estates Department.
After considering the submissions of Advocate S.S. Ahmed appearing for the petitioner, the Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal granted last opportunity to Dy. AG Vishal Bharti appearing vice S.S.Nanda, Sr. AAG for the Estates Department to furnish a specific affidavit with regard to the concrete steps taken to address the concerns/grievances that are sought to be raised in the petition.
Looking into the Public Interest involved in the matter the Division Bench directed the Registry to re-notify the instant PIL on 27.10.2025.