Jammu, March 11:
The long-running legal battle over the occupation of government bungalows by former ministers and legislators saw significant movement today. The Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, presided over the latest hearing of the high-profile Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 17/2020).
Ex-MLC Ravinder Kumar Sharma Vacates Premises
In a notable development, the court was informed that Ex-MLC Ravinder Kumar Sharma has officially vacated his government accommodation.
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The Backdrop: Sharma had previously submitted an affidavit pledging to hand over physical possession by February 28, 2026.
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The Outcome: His counsel, Advocate Ayush Pangotra, confirmed that the premises have been handed back to the Estates Department. Consequently, the Division Bench disposed of his specific writ petition as infructuous.
Extension for Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ravinder Raina
The Estates Department filed a fresh affidavit detailing the status of other high-profile occupants. The “Competent Authority” has granted temporary retention of residential accommodations to:
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Ghulam Nabi Azad (Former Chief Minister)
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Ravinder Raina (Former BJP J&K President)
Deadline: Both have been allowed to stay until March 2026. Following the expiry of this period, a Designated Committee will conduct a fresh review to decide on further allotment or eviction.
The “Commercial Rent” Conflict: PIL Remains Open
While the Division Bench initially suggested that the PIL had “served its purpose” and could be closed, the petitioner’s legal team, led by Advocate S.S. Ahmed, strongly contested the move.
Advocate Ahmed, appearing with Advocates Supriya Chouhan and Mohd. Zulkarnain Chowdhary, argued that the case is far from over due to several unresolved financial issues:
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Commercial Rent Recovery: The petitioner is seeking the recovery of commercial-rate rent for the entire duration these individuals occupied the premises without holding any official office.
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Outstanding Dues: The PIL specifically prays for the full recovery of all arrears owed to the state exchequer.
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Prior Court Mandates: Ahmed pointed to an earlier Division Bench order dated April 3, 2024, which addressed these financial recoveries.
What’s Next?
The Court took note of these arguments regarding the recovery of dues. Rather than closing the case, the Division Bench has scheduled the next hearing for May 6, 2026, to further address the accountability and financial liabilities of the former occupants.
