J&K&L High Court Issues Notice To UT On PIL Alleging Non-Implementation Of Women's Seat Reservation, Safety Measures In Public Transport
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued notice to the Union Territory administration on a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging non-implementation of mandatory safety measures and seat reservation for women in public transport, despite an existing policy framework.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal passed the order of issuing notice after hearing preliminary submissions and posted the matter for further hearing on March 4, 2026.
Through her PIL the petitioner, advocate Monisa Manzoor Mir, appearing in person, contended that the Transport Department's circular dated January 7, 2025 mandating reservation of seats for women at the ratio of 1:12 in large buses and 1:9 in mini-buses has remained largely ineffective in practice. She submitted that the circular's existence has not translated into enforcement on the ground.
Placing reliance on information obtained under the Right to Information Act, the petitioner asserted that no inspections or penal actions have been undertaken by the authorities to ensure compliance. She further pointed out that there is no established public helpline for women commuters and that claims regarding the constitution of flying squads are unsupported by any demonstrable enforcement record.
The plea also highlighted a lack of coordination among departments, submitting that responses from the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and the Traffic Police appeared to shift responsibility to the Transport Department, reflecting systemic gaps in implementation.
To underscore the gravity of the issue, the petitioner referred to data collected from 298 women at local educational institutions, indicating that 85.6 per cent had experienced harassment or discomfort while using public transport. A significant number of respondents, she added, were unaware of any complaint redressal mechanism.
Comparative reference was made to initiatives adopted in other States, including women-specific travel schemes and subsidised transport facilities, to argue that effective safety reforms can be achieved through administrative resolve without awaiting legislative amendments.
“States like Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have successfully implemented 'Pink Tickets', 'Tejswani Buses' and 'Shakti Schemes', through administrative intent, crystallizing that legislative amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, is not a pre-requisite for safety reforms”, she stated.
After considering the submissions, the Bench issued notice to the respondents. Government Advocate Illyas Nazir Laway accepted notice on behalf of the Union Territory and sought time to obtain instructions and file a response.
The Court accordingly adjourned the matter to March 4, 2026, for further consideration.
Case Title: Monisa Manzoor Mir Vs UT Of J&K