Imtizamia Committee Jamia Masjid Bilal, Panzinara-A Th. Its Chairman vs Union Territory Of Jammu & Kashmir & Ors.

Through the medium of instant application, filed in terms of provisions of Order 1, Rule 8 CPC, one Hafizullah Mir, seeks the filing of the main petition as a representative of the Intizamia Committee of Jamia Masjid Bilal, Panzinara-A, Srinagar. It is submitted in the application that the petitioner-Committee is consisting of so many members and office bearers who have nominated the petitioner- Hafizullah Mir, as the Chairman of the Intizamia Committee of Jammia Masjid Bilal, Panzinara-A and all its members have permitted him to institute the main writ petition in the representative capacity for redressel of their grievance(s).

Heard the submissions of learned counsel for the aforesaid representative of the applicant/petitioner-Intizamia Committee of Jamia Masjid Bilal, Panzinara-A, Srinagar, in respect of the matter. Perused the instant application, which is supported with a duly attested affidavit.

On the grounds mentioned in the application, coupled with submissions made at the Bar, the alleged representative-Hafizullah Mir, is permitted to file the main petition in the representative capacity on behalf of Intizamia Committee of Jamia Masjid Bilal, Panzinara-A, Srinagar, CM No. 6615/2026, is disposed of.

Mr. Mohsin. S. Qadri, Sr. AAG, appears and accepts notice in the matter for the respondents.

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner-committee in respect of the matter.

The case of the petitioner-committee in nutshell is that the respondents have not till date given any effect to the SRO 185 dated 22^nd May, 2007, whereby the Government of Jammu and Kashmir altered and restructured the territorial jurisdiction of various District, Sub-Divisions and Tehsils. That the revenue Estates of Panzinara and Ranbirgarh Pratapgarh, fall within the territorial and revenue jurisdiction of District Srinagar, however, the jurisdiction of several essential departments, particularly Jal-Shakti (PHE), KPDCL, Health and Posts & Telegraphs, continues to remain vested with the adjoining Districts of Baramulla and Bandipora. That the overlapping administrative jurisdiction has created considerable difficulty for the inhabitants in approaching the concerned authorities, availing essential public services, and securing timely redressal of their grievances. That the existing arrangement has also resulted in avoidable inconvenience and hardship to public, despite the Estates otherwise falling within the territorial/revenue jurisdiction of District Srinagar. That the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, vide Communication No. DivcomK/Dev/01/2025/e-7797798/1 1344-46, Dated 19-11-2025, addressed to the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, took up the subject issue of jurisdiction with the higher authorities. That pursuant to a grievance already raised by the inhabitants during a Grievance Redressal Camp, the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, constituted a Committee to examine the difficulties arising out of the existing inter-district jurisdiction and to suggest appropriate remedial measures. That the Committee, after examining the matter, submitted its detailed report vide No. DCS/ADCCPS/Misc/2025-26/7307 dated 18-10-2025, recommending necessary jurisdictional adjustments, so as to bring the concerned departments, presently functioning under Districts Baramulla and Bandipora, within the administrative jurisdiction of District Srinagar. That the departments, so recommended include Rural Development, KPDCL, Health, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Poshan (ICDS), Irrigation & Flood Control and Forest. That the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, accordingly recommended implementation of the proposed adjustments, which would address the long-standing difficulties faced by the inhabitants and ensure better coordination, efficient delivery of essential public services and effective grievance redressal. That however, despite the aforesaid report and recommendations having been forwarded to the competent authority, no decision has been taken till date, thereby perpetuating the difficulties and hardship faced by the inhabitants of Estates Panzinara and Ranbirgarh Pratapgarh.

The petitioner-Committee has sought for issuance of writs of mandamus for:-

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the matter can be disposed of even at this threshold stage by directing the respondents to immediately address the grievance(s) of the inhabitants of Panzinara and Ranbirgarh Pratapgarh, in connection with revenue/territorial jurisdiction of said villages with the District Srinagar as per SRO 185 dated 22^nd May 2007.

The learned Sr. AAG, however, submitted that the Government is believed to be actively taking necessary action in the matter. However, learned Sr. AAG, did not oppose the disposal of this writ petition with the direction to the respondents to immediately look into the matter to redress the grievance(s) of the petitioner-Committee.

In the backdrop, this writ petition at its threshold stage is disposed of with the direction to the respondents to immediately look into grievances(s) of the petitioner-Committee as projected in detail in the memo of this petition and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law in the matter within a period of eight weeks.

The writ petition is disposed of along with connected CM(s).