Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 6: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking shifting of Kishtwar courts to old DC office complex, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal has directed the Registrar General to place the matter before the Chief Justice for suitable orders in view of the latest status report filed by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar.
When the PIL filed by Bar Association Kishtwar through its President I A Hamal came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocate Irfaan Mohd. Khan appearing for petitioner submitted that pursuant to last order dated June 2, 2017 the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar has filed the status report.
“The Deputy Commissioner has submitted that vide communication No.ARA/K/17/47 dated June 12, 2017 he requested Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kishtwar to make the accommodation of the Judicial Complex available for housing the Tehsil Office and its allied sections so that the complete building—old DC office complex could be handed over to him. However, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kishtwar has expressed his inability to take any decision in the matter as the same was the prerogative of the higher authorities”, Advocate Ahmed said.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar again vide his communication No.ARA/K/17 /50 dated June 14, 2017 approached Divisional Commissioner Jammu for the similar request. But, the Divisional Commissioner conveyed the matter to the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
“The Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has taken up the matter with the Registrar General of the State High Court and requested him for placing the matter before the High Court for concurrence/ approval for transferring the existing Judicial Complex Kishtwar to the Revenue Department for housing the Tehsil Office and its allied offices”, Advocate Ahmed said.
After considering the submissions of Advocate Ahmed and Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar, the Division Bench directed the Registrar General to place the matter before Chief Justice for suitable orders in view of the latest status report filed by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar.
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