SRINAGAR: The Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has sought details of the policy governing the retention of government accommodation by political persons after being informed that former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and former BJP Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina have been allowed to retain their official residences until March 2027 or the next review, whichever comes earlier.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri, in an order dated October 12, asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to explain the policy under which such accommodation can be retained and the authority empowering the designated committee to consider such cases.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Prof S K Bhalla, in which the petitioner challenged the protection granted to the two political figures against eviction from government accommodation.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s senior counsel referred to an earlier order dated December 26, 2022, in which the Division Bench had declined to protect occupants of government properties from eviction on security grounds. The counsel argued that security considerations could not be used to justify unauthorised occupation of government accommodation.
The petitioner’s counsel also cited Supreme Court and Delhi High Court judgments in support of the submissions.
Appearing for the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli informed the court that the designated committee had considered the cases of Azad and Raina at its meeting on August 14, 2026, and recommended continuation of their allotments.
She further submitted that the recommendations were placed before the competent authority, which, after consideration, permitted both to retain their residential accommodation until March 2027 or the next review, whichever is earlier.
The Bench subsequently asked the administration to clarify which uniform policy governed the retention of government accommodation by political persons and under what authority the designated committee had considered the cases.
Kohli sought time to file an appropriate affidavit explaining the applicable policy and assisting the court on the issues raised. The request was allowed.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 12, 2026.
