Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: In bunch of Letters Patent Appeals filed against judgment of Writ Court whereby Divisional Commissioner Jammu was directed to take over the affairs of District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Jammu, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justice Tashi Rabstan today held the Divisional Commissioner fully responsible for conducting the affairs of the Committee for a period of six months with the assistance of the Committee which was in position on the date of passing of the impugned order.
The DB directed the competent authorities to take all the steps, which are required as per the mandate of the Act and Rules read with the communication made by Assistant Commissioner (Nazool), Jammu, to take the election process in the entire State to its logical end within six months.
Earlier, the counsels for the appellants argued that the impugned judgment was not in accordance with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act, 1973 and consent order cannot be made in breach of the main provisions of the Act and Rules.
At this stage, counsel for the Caveators and AAG appearing for the State, stated at the Bar that the concern of the entire Sikh community and the State is to have elections conducted as early as possible because parties are entangled in litigation for the last so many years and prayed that all these appeals may be disposed of with the consent of the parties and the State authorities be commanded to conduct elections as per the law and rules applicable within the short span of time.
AAG stated that six months time was required for taking the election process to its logical end. His statement was taken on record. He also placed on record communication made by Assistant Commissioner (Nazool) to Financial Commissioner (Revenue) and Election Authority (Assistant Commissioner) Revenue Jammu. He further stated at the Bar that after creation of the districts, the delimitation of the constituencies was required.
After hearing Senior Advocates UK Jalali, PN Raina, VR Wazir, KS Johal, AAG HA Siddiqui appearing for the parties, Division Bench observed, “the impugned order in so far as it relates to conducting of election by the Divisional Commissioner, is not in accordance with the mandate of the Act and Rules”.
“The consent given by counsel for the parties and the sentiments of Sikh Community read with the fact that the parties are litigating for the last so many years, we deem it proper to take all the appeals on Board and dispose of the same with the directions to the Divisional Commissioner”, the DB said.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel