J&K&L High Court Puts Govt On Final Notice, Grants 4 Weeks To Decide On Ex-Legislators Occupying Govt Quarters Despite Demitting Office

Aiming a fast tracking action on the long pending issue of Government accommodations occupied by high-profile political figures, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has granted the Estates Department a last and final extension of four weeks to act on the recommendations of the Designated Committee relating to the official quarters of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and former BJP President Ravinder Raina.

The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation seeking eviction of ex-ministers and legislators who continue to retain government quarters despite having demitted office long ago.

The direction came after Senior AAG Monika Kohli requested a short accommodation of time, informing the Bench that a fresh status report had been filed pursuant to the Court's earlier order but that four more weeks were needed for the Government to conclude the process. The Bench allowed the request but made it unambiguously clear that no further adjournment shall be granted under any circumstances.

During the hearing, petitioner's counsel Advocate S.S. Ahmed drew the Court's attention to the fact that although the Designated Committee had met earlier in February–March 2025, the Government had not finalised its action for over eight months. He disputed the justification recorded in the status report that the Model Code of Conduct had stalled the decision making process, arguing that the MCC for the Nagrota and Budgam by-elections had long lapsed and that “not more than ten days” should now be needed to implement the Committee's recommendations.

To support his submissions, Advocate Ahmed produced an RTI response issued by the Estates Department confirming that a former Deputy Chief Minister continued to occupy government accommodation in Jammu. The Bench perused the document, and Kohli was handed the communication in open court.

He further apprised the Bench that certain VIP occupants, already evicted by the Estates Department in compliance with Supreme Court directions and the High Court's ongoing monitoring, had subsequently secured injunctions from civil courts, an issue that, he urged, required urgent judicial scrutiny. Responding to this, the bench remarked that the matter “would be looked into.”

After considering the submissions, the Division Bench reiterated its stand against continued delay and directed the Government to conclude the entire exercise within four weeks. “It is made clear that no further adjournment in this regard shall be granted”. the bench recorded.

The matter has now been posted on December 23, 2025 for further review.

Case Title: Prof S. K Bhalla Vs UT Of J&K

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