Srinagar, Oct 14 : The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has sought details of the uniform policy governing retention of government accommodation by political persons in the Union Territory, questioning the legal authority under which former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and former BJP Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina have been allowed to retain their official residences until March 2027 or the next review, whichever is earlier.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri passed the order on October 12 while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Prof S K Bhalla, WP(C)PIL No. 17/2020.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued that unauthorised occupation of government accommodation could not be protected on security grounds and referred to an earlier order dated December 26, 2022, in which the court had declined to protect occupants of government properties from eviction on that basis.
Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli, appearing for the Jammu and Kashmir administration, informed the court that the cases concerning retention of accommodation by Azad and Raina had been considered by a designated committee at its meeting on August 14, 2026. The committee recommended continuation of both allotments.
The court was further informed that the recommendations were placed before the competent authority, which subsequently permitted the two political figures to retain their residences until March 2027 or the next review, whichever comes earlier.
The Bench then asked the government to explain which policy governed the retention of government accommodation by political persons and from where the designated committee derived its authority to decide whether such accommodation should continue.
Seeking time to respond, the government counsel agreed to file an appropriate affidavit explaining the applicable uniform policy and assisting the court on the issues raised. The court allowed the request and listed the matter for November 12, 2026.
The order does not cancel the existing allotments or direct immediate eviction of either political figure. Instead, it seeks clarification from the administration regarding the policy and authority underlying the decisions. [KNT]
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