Jammu & Kashmir High Court – Srinagar Bench
Noor Illahi Fakhtoo vs Ut Of Jammu & Kashmir Through … on 20 February, 2026
Author: Sindhu Sharma
Bench: Sindhu Sharma
HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH
AT SRINAGAR
LPA No. 314/2025 in WP (C) No. 1260/2025
Reserved On: 5th of February, 2026.
Pronounced On: 20th of February, 2026.
Uploaded On: 20th of February, 2026.
Whether the operative part or
full Judgment is pronounced: Full.
Noor Illahi Fakhtoo, Age: 50 Years
S/O Late Bashir Ahmad Fakhtoo
R/O House 18, Sector-B, Umerabad,
Peerbagh, Srinagar.
... Appellant(s)
Through: -
Mr G. A. Lone, Senior Advocate with
Mr Mujeeb Andrabi, Advocate.
V/s
1. UT of Jammu & Kashmir through Commissioner/ Secretary
to Government, Revenue Department, Civil Secretariat,
Srinagar-190001.
2. Financial Commissioner (Revenue), J&K, Srinagar.
3. Dy. Commissioner, Srinagar.
4. District Magistrate, Srinagar.
5. Addl. Dy. Commissioner, Srinagar.
6. Tehsildar, Chanapora/ Natipora, Srinagar.
... Official Respondents
7. Sh. Ashok Kumar Koul
S/O Sh. Som Nath Koul
R/O Talab Tilloo, Jammu.
… Private Respondent
Through: –
Mr Salih Pirzada, Advocate with
M/S Ahmad Basaud & Bhat Shafi, Advocates for R-7.
CORAM:
HON’BLE MS JUSTICE SINDHU SHARMA, JUDGE
HON’BLE MR JUSTICE SHAHZAD AZEEM, JUDGE
(JUDGMENT)
SHAHZAD AZEEM-J:
01. This intra Court appeal is directed against the Order dated
December 10, 2025, passed by the learned Single Judge [“the Writ Court]
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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in CM No. 3354/2025 filed in WP (C) No. 1260/2025 titled ‘Noor Illahi
Fakhtoo v. Union Territory of J&K and Ors.‘, whereby the application
for ad-interim relief came to be dismissed as having been rendered
infructuous, by holding that the eviction has already been carried out by the
Naib Tehsildar, Sanat Nagar and also that estoppel by judgment is
applicable to the Writ Petition.
02. The present case has a chequered history and also having been
infested with multiple rounds of litigation, nonetheless, the appeal on hand
is directed against an Order whereby the Writ Court has denied the ad-
interim relief, therefore, we deem it proper to restrict the facts as are
relevant to the controversy on hand.
03. Succinctly stated, the Appellant-Petitioner is stated to have
purchased a piece of land situate at Revenue Estate Hyderpora, measuring
17 Marlas, falling in Survey No. 764 (old) in the year 1996 and,
consequently, a sale deed came to be executed on September 20, 1996,
whereupon he has constructed a house after obtaining requisite permission
from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation that was issued on May 01, 2004.
For more than two decades, the Appellant has been residing in the house
along with his family, including his two school-going children ever since.
04. The entire estate of Hyderpora stated to have come under
settlement operation in the year 2010 and, thus, was declared as ‘Abadideh’
area and, as such, the operation of SO 34 dated January 25, 2022, i.e., the
Jammu & Kashmir Abadideh Survey and Record Operations Regulations,
2022 [“Regulations of 2022”], has been extended to the entire revenue
estate of Hyderpora, including the plot of the Appellant.
05. The miseries of the Appellant alleged to have popped up when
he received a notice dated November 05, 2019 of Tehsildar, Chanapora/
Natipora, in compliance to the Order dated January 12, 2018 issued by
District Magistrate, Srinagar, requiring the Appellant to vacate the plot in
question. It is noteworthy that this action of the Respondents No. 4 and 6
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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was taken in compliance to the Order dated April 28, 2017 passed by the
High Court in OWP No. 1232/2009, titled ‘Ashok Koul v. State of J&K
and Ors.‘, which was filed by Respondent No. 7 herein, though the
Appellant was not party in that Writ Petition.
06. It is seen that the District Magistrate, Srinagar, appears to have
constituted a committee of Revenue officers and the said team has further
constituted a sub-committee of officers for on spot demarcation of land
falling in Survey No. 524, and, accordingly, the Tehsildar, Chanapora
submitted a report dated November 11, 2017, by holding that out of 19
Marlas of land falling in Survey No. 524, owned by Ashok Koul, 02 Marlas
each is in the possession of Masjid Sharif and thoroughfare respectively,
whereas, remaining 15 Marlas of land is in the possession of Noor Illahi
Fakhtoo-Appellant herein. Therefore, on the basis of the report of the sub-
committee, the District Magistrate, after holding that 19 Marlas of land of
Ashok Koul being under the illegal occupation, vide Order dated January
12, 2018, directed Tehsildar, Chanapora to take over the possession of the
land of Ashok Koul under the provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Migrant
Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress
Sales) Act, 1997 [hereinafter referred to as “Act of 1997”] on behalf of the
District Magistrate, till further orders.
07. At this stage, a short reference to OWP No. 1232/ 2009 titled
‘Ashok Koul v. State of J&K and Ors.‘ is necessitated. The said Petition
was filed by Respondent No.7 herein-Ashok Koul, precisely seeking a
‘Writ of Mandamus’ commanding the Respondents to remove the
unauthorized occupation/ encroachment from his immovable property, i.e.,
land measuring 19 Marlas, falling under Khasra No. 524 Min, Khewat No.
138, situated at Hyderpora (Peerbagh), Airport Road, Srinagar, while taking
resort to Section 5 of the Act of 1997, and also sought direction unto the
Respondents to preserve the said property of the Petitioner.
08. The Writ Court, vide Order dated April 28, 2017, directed the
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to take action in terms of Section 5 of the
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Act of 1997 and to remove the unauthorized occupation from the land,
measuring 19 Marlas within a period of three months. Accordingly, it is this
Order dated January 12, 2018 (reference whereof made hereinbefore) came
to be passed by the District Magistrate, Srinagar. Aggrieved of the Order
dated April 28, 2017 passed in OWP No. 1232/2009 and the consequent
Order dated January 12, 2018 of District Magistrate, Srinagar, whereby
possession of the land of the Appellant was ordered to be taken over, a Writ
Petition-WP (C) No. 3379/2019, titled ‘Noor Illahi Fakhtoo v. UT of J&K
and Ors.‘, came to be filed by the Appellant herein, inter alia, questioning
the legality of the Order passed by the Writ Court and also the consequent
action of the District Magistrate taken vide Order dated January 12, 2018.
09. To be brief, the grievance of the Petitioner in WP (C) No.
3379/2019 (Appellant herein) was with regard to violation of rules of
natural justice and fairness enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution,
qua the enquiry held regarding possession and ownership in respect of land
in question; secondly; that the Order passed by the Writ Court dated April
28, 2017 has been obtained by suppression and concealment of facts, as the
Appellant being necessary party was not impleaded as party Respondent;
and, thirdly; that the District Magistrate, Srinagar did not conduct the
enquiry as per law himself, but relied upon the report of the sub-committee
that is not permissible under law. Apart from these contentions, the
Appellant also delineated the factual narration including that he is a
bonafide purchaser of the land in question and further that a house has been
constructed pursuant to the permission duly granted by the competent
authority. Though other factual pleas were also raised, but note whereof
shall be taken at appropriate stage, if need is felt.
10. Accordingly, in the said Petition, the Writ Court framed three
issues for consideration: the first issue was with regard to non-impleadment
of the Appellant as party respectively OWP No. 1232/2009 titled ‘Ashok
Koul v. State of J&K and Ors.‘; secondly; by constituting sub-committee
of Revenue officers the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, i.e., the designated
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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Authority has delegated his statutory functions; and thirdly; as to whether
the Order passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar dated January 12,
2018 is violative of rules of natural justice.
11. Accordingly, the Writ Court has considered the matter and
finally held that the Respondent No.5-Ashok Koul (Respondent No.7
herein) can neither said to have made any misrepresentation nor
concealment of facts, while obtaining the Judgment/ Order dated April 28,
2017 passed in OWP No. 1232/2009 and further went onto hold that in
terms of Section 6 of the Act of 1997, the District Magistrate has also got
demarcation done through the field staff, which indisputably is not
forbidden in terms of Section 6 of the Act of 1997. Likewise, on the third
issue of non-adherence of the rules of natural justice, the Writ Court held
that the Petitioner (Appellant herein) did not show anything either in the
Writ Petition or from the material annexed therewith that the result of such
demarcation would have been different, had he been associated in the said
process.
12. It is important to note that after returning findings on the
aforesaid three issues, what the Writ Court has observed assumes
importance and, for reference, reads as follows:
“Be that as it may, this Court refrains from
expressing any opinion as to the merits of the claim
lodged by the Petitioner qua the land in question as also
by the Respondent No.5 herein, as merits are not for this
Court to be decided, but for the designated authority
under the Act of 1997 to consider.”
13. Accordingly, the Writ Petition was disposed of by directing the
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to provide adequate opportunity of hearing
to the Petitioner (Appellant herein) as post-decisional hearing in the matter
and further that the Petitioner (Appellant herein) shall be at liberty to avail
such hearing either in person or through his Counsel and also shall be free
to produce all/ any documents/ material in support of his case. The Writ
Court also directed that till the conclusion of the aforesaid hearing, the
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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operation of impugned Order dated January 12, 2018 read with notice dated
November 05, 2019 shall remain in abeyance.
14. Thereafter, the District Magistrate, Srinagar, in compliance to
the Judgment dated June 07, 2023, passed in WP (C) No. 3379/2019, issued
Order dated May 22, 2025, whereby the District Magistrate, Srinagar, on
the basis of enquiry report, found no reason to reverse or modify the earlier
Order dated January 12, 2018 and, accordingly, the application of the
Appellant was dismissed and further, Tehsildar, Chanapora/ Natipora was
directed to proceed in the matter as per the directions already issued vide
Order dated January 12, 2018.
15. It was this Order dated May 22, 2025 which came to be
assailed by the Appellant by way of WP (C) No. 1260/2025, titled ‘Noor
Illahi Fakhtoo v. UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ors.‘, and further sought
direction for declaring the Petitioner (Appellant herein) to be the owner in
possession of the land falling under Survey No. 379 (new) along with
residential house and also to issue certificate of ownership in terms of
Regulation 36 of the Regulations of 2022, etc. An application for grant of
ad-interim relief, being CM No. 3354/2025, also came to be filed, seeking
stay of the operation of impugned Order dated May 22, 2025. The Writ
Court, vide Order dated December 10, 2025, subject matter of challenge in
the instant appeal, has dismissed the application, mainly on the ground that
the issue raised in the Petition regarding alleged non-recording of subjective
satisfaction by the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and as to whether
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar can delegate his power to the subordinate
or rely on the report of his subordinate has already been examined and
conclusively determined by a learned Single Judge in WP (C) No.
3379/2019 and that the Petitioner (Appellant herein) has accepted those
findings, therefore, he is estopped under law from reopening or re-agitating
the same question before another Bench exercising concurrent jurisdiction.
The Writ Court further held that in compliance to the directions passed by
the learned Single Judge, the opportunity of hearing to the Petitioner, as a
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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Page 7 of 18
post-decisional hearing in the matter, was provided, but the Petitioner failed
to produce any such material which could have enabled the Deputy
Commissioner, Srinagar to take a view different from the earlier view taken
vide Order dated January 12, 2018. The further reasoning prevailed with the
Writ Court that the Appellant did not lay a proper motion challenging the
eviction notice, therefore, held that the Court is not in a position to record
any finding or to protect the lis, as prayed for by the Counsel for the
Petitioner. And, most importantly, the Writ Court, while dismissing the
application, observed that since the prayer for interim protection no longer
survives as eviction of the Petitioner has already been carried out, therefore,
interim protection no longer survives.
16. Though, in the memo of appeal, detailed factual narration is
given, but we do not deem it proper to delineate all those details, however,
note whereof shall be taken hereinafter, as and when deemed necessary. Mr
G. A. Lone, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Appellant, also
has made submissions on the same lines, however, while summing up he
has, canvassed at Bar that the Writ Petition was filed much before the
eviction notice dated December 06, 2025, which was sent on the WhatsApp
number of the Appellant and, while hearing of the appeal was in progress
on December 10, 2025, the eviction Order came to be passed by the
Respondents, thereby they have clandestinely locked the house of the
Appellant and, consequently, passed Order dated December 10, 2025,
whereby Naib Tehsildar, Sanat Nagar has submitted compliance that he
carried out the eviction of the occupants from the property (a double-storied
residential house), constructed on landed property measuring 15 Marlas
under Survey No. 379 at estate Hyderpora belonging to Ashok Koul S/O
Shri Soom Nath Koul R/O Talab Tillu, Jammu. Therefore, the learned
Counsel submits that there was no occasion for the Appellant to take
appropriate steps challenging these eviction notices, nonetheless, he has
filed application, being CM No. 8219/2025, placing on record the eviction
notice dated December 06, 2025 and also apprised the Writ Court about the
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said fact, but same has not been taken into consideration while dismissing
the application for ad-interim relief.
17. Per contra, the learned Counsel appearing for the contesting
Respondent No.7 had mainly laid stress on the issue of constitution of sub-
committee by the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar for demarcation of the
land in question and that same has already been decided by the Writ Court
in the earlier round of litigation, therefore, the Appellant is estopped from
raising the same point again. The learned Counsel vehemently argued that
the Appellant was provided with adequate opportunity of being heard, but
he failed to produce the relevant documents, so as to prove that he is the
owner in possession of the land in dispute. Therefore, on these issues, the
findings already returned by the Writ Court in WP (C) No. 3379/2019 have
assumed finality and, thus, the Appellant is precluded from re-agitating the
same.
18. Heard. Considered.
19. It is beaten law of the land that for the grant of ad-interim
relief/ injunction, the globally acknowledged principles are collectively
known as “triple test” or “three golden principles” and these three
cardinal factors that are deeply embedded in Indian jurisprudence as well
are: ‘prima facie case’; ‘balance of convenience’ and ‘irreparable injury’. In
this regard, a reference can be made to the Judgment of Hon’ble Supreme
Court in ‘State of Kerala v. Union of India, (2024) 7 SCC 183′.
20. In the wake of the law governing the ad-interim relief, inter
alia, the point that falls for our consideration is that as to whether the Writ
Court, while dismissing the interim application, has rightly taken into
consideration the question of estoppel by judgment and further that the
District Magistrate has duly performed his statutory duties, while relying
on the report of the field officers/ staff having regard to the findings
returned by the Writ Court in the earlier round of litigation in WP (C) No.
3379/2019, wherein the Writ Court held that the Deputy Commissioner,
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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Page 9 of 18
Srinagar has not delegated his quasi-judicial function while issuing the
impugned Order dated January 12, 2018, but has only got demarcation done
through the field staff which indisputably is not forbidden in terms of
Section 6 of the Act of 1997.
21. Keeping in view the broader principles of law governing the
ad-interim relief, when we have waded through the Order dated May 22,
2025, passed by the District Magistrate Srinagar, i.e., impugned Order
before the Writ Court, it appears that, while dismissing the application of
the Appellant-Noor Illah Fakhtoo, the Magistrate has relied upon the report
submitted by the Tehsildar, Chanapora based on the demarcation done by
the team of officers constituted by the Tehsildar. So, there was delegation
and sub-delegation of power in constituting the team of Officers also.
22. In the Order dated, May 22, 2025, the District Magistrate,
Srinagar observed that the Tehsildar, Chanapora has constituted a team for
demarcation, which clearly reported that the Applicant-Noor Illahi Fakhtoo
is residing in Survey No. 379 (Abadideh) since 1996 and, as per sale deed,
the Applicant has land measuring 17 Marlas falling in Survey No. 764
(old), which has been assigned new Survey No. 387 and Survey No. 524
(old) has been assigned new Survey No. 379, respectively. It has been
further observed by the District Magistrate, Srinagar that the constituted
team has further reported that Noor Illahi might have been provided with
the documents of old Survey No. 764 (new 387) but he has been in
possession of Survey No. 524 min old (379 new). He further went onto
observe that the Applicant, despite having been given adequate opportunity
of hearing, could not provide sufficient material that the piece of land he
has occupied is recorded in his name and not in the name of Ashok Koul,
therefore, finally dismissed the application.
23. We have taken into consideration only those observations of
the District Magistrate, Srinagar which weighed with him while dismissing
the application filed by Appellant herein. There is no dispute to the fact that
the District Magistrate can take the assistance of the subordinate Officers or
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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Page 10 of 18
field staff in terms of Section 6 of the Act of 1997 for conducting the
survey, including measurements, but the questions that property is migrant
property and the possession of the occupant is unauthorized are the
questions which are to be assessed by the District Magistrate subjectively as
a designate Statutory Authority and the said power certainly is not capable
of being delegated to any other Authority or officer under him, which
necessarily means that the enquiry culminating into his subjective
satisfaction to enable him to exercise the power vested in him is to be
conducted by him as “persona designata” and not through any other
agency whatsoever, even though such an agency may be employed by him
for rendering necessary assistance for collection of materials to arrive at a
conclusion.
24. Practical assistance from subordinates is allowed and is also
necessary in large administrations, but the Statutory Authority cannot
abdicate its duty or act as a rubber stamp. The final decision must reflect the
Authority’s own mind and the Order must ordinarily disclose reasons in
reference to the material considered by it to withstand judicial scrutiny. A
statutory duty cast on a Statutory Authority cannot be fully got done
through a subordinate in the sense of delegating the core decision-making
power and full reliance cannot be placed on a subordinate officer’s report
without independent application of mind by the Authority.
25. However, prima facie, it appears that even if one were to read
the Order dated May 22, 2025 passed by the District Magistrate, Srinagar
with naked eye, it would lead to the irresistible conclusion that the District
Magistrate relied upon a vague and cryptic report of field officials wherein
it was reported that Noor Illahi might have been provided with documents
of old Survey No. 764 (new 387) and has been in possession of Survey No.
524 Min old (379 new). However, the District Magistrate, Srinagar still
banked upon this half-baked report of the field staff by taking it as a gospel
truth and went onto dismiss the application of the Appellant. We also find
that the Appellant has produced before the competent authority the requisite
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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documents to substantiate his bonafide claim over the land in question,
including, site plan along with registered sale deed, so as to show that there
is complete dissimilarity between the shape and the site of both of the plots,
and also produced the building permission, so much so, a detailed
application also came to be filed with the request for demarcation of
Abadideh land (State land) in accordance with the provisions of the
Regulations of 2022, but it appears that same have not been taken into
consideration, rather, by a one-liner, gave short shrift to the material and
also to the request of the Appellant for demarcation of the land in terms of
the Regulations of 2022, by holding that SO 34 dated January 25, 2022 is
with regard to survey and record operations of the Village Abadideh and not
for the demarcation of proprietary land, as pleaded by the Counsel for the
Applicant.
26. The primary object and purpose of the Regulations of 2022 is
to systematically survey, identify, map and record rights in Abadideh areas
to achieve, inter alia, verifiable records of rights, including ownership,
possession and structures for properties in rural inhabited areas, which
historically often lack formal revenue documentation or have outdated/
incomplete records. The further underlying object of these Regulations is to
identify and demarcate Abadideh plots, structures, Government/ semi-
Government lands, etc., which is discernible from Regulations 22 and 23
respectively, that deal with determination of unique code of Abadideh plots
and recording of category and sub-category of Abadideh area. Therefore,
ex-facie, District Magistrate, Srinagar proceeded on an erroneous
assumption and also in a mechanical manner, oblivion of the very object of
the Regulations of 2022 and sans any independent application of mind, as
enjoined under the Act of 1997.
27. The Order impugned before the Writ Court came to be passed
in compliance to the directions passed, in WP (C) No. 3379 of 2019,
therefore, as to whether it was barred by estoppel by conduct or judgment,
or that as to whether or not the Appellant had submitted any satisfactory
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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material during the post-decisional hearing, these are the arguable points,
therefore, merits of the case could not have been gone into at the stage of
considering the application for ad-interim relief. What was expected at the
stage is to see as to whether there is a prima facie case, which should not be
confused with the prima facie title, as it focuses on the need for further
adjudication, rather than establishing ownership or rights at the outset.
28. The case set up by of the Appellant is that he has purchased the
land that falls in Survey No. 764 (old) and the land purchased by the
Respondent No.7 falls in Survey No. 524 (old), whereas, after settlement,
the old Survey No. 524 came to be divided into new Survey Nos. viz. 377,
377/1 and 378 and same is also observed in para 5 by the Writ Court in its
Order dated June 07, 2023. According to the Appellant, the old Survey No.
764 is given new Survey No. 379, but surprisingly, at the last moment in the
Order dated May 22, 2025 and contrary to the earlier reports of the Deputy
Commissioner and also without any basis, Survey No.764 (old), shown to
have been assigned Survey No. 387 (new), instead of 379 (new).
29. Again, another very important aspect, perhaps missed the
attention of the Writ Court is that in WP (C) No. 3379/2019, the Writ Court,
while concluding, specifically held that it refrains from expressing any
opinion as to the merits of the claim lodged by the Petitioner (Appellant
herein) qua the land in question as also by the Respondent No.5
(Respondent No.7 herein), as merits are not for this Court to be decided, but
for the designated Authority under the Act of 1997 to consider. In this view
of the matter, the observations of the Writ Court regarding estoppel by
conduct and further that the Appellant had failed to produce material before
the District Magistrate in support of his claim are the observations having
been made too early in the day, particularly while considering the
application for ad-interim relief, therefore, same are not sustainable.
30. After going through the memo of appeal and hearing the
learned Counsel for the parties, we are of the opinion that the Appellant has
an arguable case, prima facie on the point of applicability of estoppel;
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alteration and change of Survey numbers, which, on the face of it, are based
on conflicting findings of the revenue authorities; nature, scope and extent
of power of the competent authority under the Act of 1997 and extent of its
delegation; the legality of dismissal of the application of the Appellant for
demarcation of Abadideh land by modern technology like geo-reference in
accordance with the Regulations of 2022. The Order dated 22, 2025, passed
by the District Magistrate, Srinagar is silent on the point as to the location,
size, shape, of the plot of land owned by the Appellant as well as
Respondent No.7, particularly when the Appellant, all along, is crying that
there is no similarity between the plot owned and possessed by him and that
of Respondent No.7, as one is situate at the northern side of the road and the
other is at the southern side. There is no whisper worth the name on all
these important issues.
31. At least, before us, the learned Counsel appearing for the
Appellant as well as Respondent No.7 are at ad idem on the point that the
Appellant as well as Respondent No.7 are the bonafide purchasers, but only
it has to be seen whether the Appellant is occupying the same plot regarding
which sale deed was executed or to the contrary he is in physical possession
of plot purchased by Respondent No.7. However, all these questions only
could have been considered at the time of hearing of the case on merits,
after hearing and taking into consideration the pleadings of the parties, but
findings returned by the Writ Court while considering application for
interim relief falls beyond the scope of interim relief, which is only meant
to preserve the lis till its final adjudication.
32. While going through the case file, we had come across the
Response filed by official Respondents in WP (C) 3379/ 2019 titled ‘Noor
Illahi Fakhtoo v. UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ors.‘, duly signed by
Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, wherein, inter alia, it has been submitted
that as per the pre-settlement records of Revenue Estate, Hyderpora,
Srinagar, the Respondent No.5 (Respondent No.7 herein) has purchased
land measuring 19 Marlas under Survey No. 524 (old) in the said estate by
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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virtue of instrument of sale from Jay Kishori wife of Pandit Brij Nath and
duly mutated vide mutation Order No. 2914. In the said Response, it is
further stated that the settlement operation of the Revenue Estate Hyderpora
was initiated and concluded thereof and, by virtue of which, Survey No.
524 (pre-settlement) has got merged/ divided into new Survey Nos. 377,
377/1 and 378, which fact also finds its mention in the Order passed by the
Writ Court in WP (C) 3379/2019. Therefore, it is now required to be seen
as to how come the District Magistrate, Srinagar, in the impugned Order
dated May 22, 2025 before the Writ Court, mentioned that old Survey No.
764 has been assigned a new Survey No. 387 and old Survey No. 524
(pertaining to Respondent No.7) has been assigned new Survey No. 379,
which prima facie speaks of non-application of mind and, as such, on such
perfunctory report, the Appellant cannot be deprived of his shelter, wherein
he has been residing along with his family, including school-going children,
for the last more than 20 years on the basis of duly executed sale deed and
after obtaining proper permission from the competent authority.
33. The learned Counsel for the Appellant, during the course of
arguments and which fact is also borne out from the pleadings, submitted
that the eviction process has been carried out by locking the premises and,
in this process, even the household items of the Appellant, including
clothing of his family members, cooking utensils, beddings, etc., have also
been locked inside the house. It has been further stated that the school-
going children have been deprived from studying because their books are
also lying in one of the rooms of the locked house.
34. In the case on hand, on the basis of the pleadings of the parties
and documents available on record, we are of the opinion that there is a
strong prima facie evidence in favor of the Appellant as a bonafide
purchaser of the land in question, who has raised the construction on the
basis of valid permission and also balance of convenience tilts in his favor
as the Appellant has invested in construction and, by now, for a pretty long
time, his family, including school-going children, have been residing there,
LPA No. 314/2025 in
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Page 15 of 18
therefore, any displacement till the Court finally decides the matter on
merits is surely going to cause irreparable injury. Since, the Appellant has
made out and raised an arguable case, therefore, a case for intervention by
way of ad-interim relief is found to have exist convincingly.
35. Admittedly, the Respondent No.7 has staked his claim over
open plot of land, whereas, the Appellant has by now constructed house
after following due process of law and is residing there for last 20 years.
Therefore, once he approached the Writ Court calling in question the action
of the statutory authority on various grounds, thereby raising arguable
points, in that event, the action of the District Magistrate to take away the
shelter of the family of the Appellant was required to be interdicted in
exercise of judicial review.
36. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in ‘Benedict Denis Kinny v.
Tulip Brian Miranda & Ors., Smt. Prachi Prasad Parab v. State of
Maharashtra & Ors., AIR 2020 Supreme Court 3050′, while dealing in
extenso with the powers of the judicial review of the High Court under
Article 226 of the Constitution of India, inter alia, held as follows:
“xxxxx
(i) The power of judicial review vested in the
High Courts under Article 226 and this Court under
Article 32 of the Constitution is an integral and essential
feature of the Constitution and is basic structure of our
Constitution. The jurisdiction under Article 226 is
original, extraordinary and discretionary. The look out
of the High Court is to see whether injustice has resulted
on account of any decision of a constitutional authority,
a tribunal, a statutory authority or an authority within
meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution.
(ii) The Courts are guardians of the rights and
liberties of the citizen and they shall fail in their
responsibility if they abdicate their solemn duty towards
the citizens. The scope of Article 226 is very wide and
can be used to remedy injustice wherever it is found.
(iii) The power under Article 226 of the
Constitution overrides any contrary provision in a
LPA No. 314/2025 in
WP (C) No. 1260/2025Page 16 of 18
Statute and the power of the High Court under Article
226 cannot be taken away or abridged by any contrary
provision in a Statute.
(iv) When a citizen has right to judicial review
against any decision of statutory authority, the High
Court in exercise of judicial review had every
jurisdiction to maintain the status quo so as to by lapse
of time, the petition may not be infructuous. The interim
order can always be passed by a High Court in exercise
of writ jurisdiction to maintain the status quo in aid of
the relief claimed so that at the time of final decision of
the Writ Petition, the relief may not become infructuous.
xxxxx”
37. Interim relief is intended to preserve the subject matter of
litigation and to prevent irreparable injury during the pendency of the
proceedings. Denial of such protection, particularly in cases involving
deprivation of residential premises, must be exercised with utmost
circumspection. Courts are duty-bound to ensure that judicial proceedings
do not become illusory by permitting irreversible situations to arise pending
adjudication.
38. At this stage, while looking to the facts and circumstances of
the case on hand, what has been observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
‘Deoraj v. State of Maharashtra & Ors., AIR 2004 SC 1975′, also
assumes relevance and reads, thus:
“12. Situations emerge where the granting of an
interim relief would tantamount to granting the final
relief itself. And, then there may be converse cases
where withholding of an interim relief would tantamount
to dismissal of main Petition itself; for, by the time the
matter comes up for hearing there would be nothing left
to be allowed as relief to the petitioner though all the
findings may be in his favour.
xxxxx”
39. Here is a case which shocks the conscience of the Court when
indisputably it is shown to the Court that the authorities have locked the
house along with all household items, including study books belonging to
the school- going children, during the eviction process, especially when the
LPA No. 314/2025 in
WP (C) No. 1260/2025
Page 17 of 18
High Court was hearing the case on the same very day. Therefore, we are of
the considered opinion that the Appellant is entitled to the interim
protection because denial thereof has resulted in loss of shelter and severe
disruption of his family, which fly in the face of ‘Right to Life’, guaranteed
under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
40. Notwithstanding the point regarding legality of the sale deed of
the piece of land over which ownership right has been claimed by the
Respondent No.7-Shri Ashok Koul, being in contravention of Section 31
(pre-amended) of the Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, is raised, but we leave
all these questions to be decided by the Writ Court while adjudicating the
matter finally on merits.
41. All along, the claim of the Respondent No. 7 is that he is a
‘Migrant’, as described under the Act of 1997, as such, is entitled to
protection of his immoveable property from encroachment in terms of
Section 5 of the Act of 1997, nonetheless, the competent authority is firstly
required to adjudicate the status of the Respondent No.7 as a ‘Migrant’ and
only then, the applicability of the Act of 1997 would come into play. But
this point also needs consideration, which, in our opinion, forms the
fulcrum of the controversy in question.
42. In view of the preceding analysis, the present appeal is
allowed and the impugned Order dated December 12, 2025 passed by the
learned Writ Court is set aside. The Order No. DMS/RD-732/Mig/114
dated May 22, 2025 passed by District Magistrate, Srinagar as well as
eviction notice No. 1841-44/OQ/TCH/25 dated December 06, 2025 issued
by Tehsildar Chanapora/ Natipora shall remain in abeyance. Resultantly,
status quo ante is granted in favor of the Appellant and the Respondents
No. 3 and 4 are directed to hand over the keys of the house to the Appellant,
after preparing an inventory of the household items. We make it clear that
the observations made in this Judgment shall not be construed as expression
of opinion with regard to the merits of the case and that same shall be
confined to disposal of this appeal only. We further direct that this Order
LPA No. 314/2025 in
WP (C) No. 1260/2025
Page 18 of 18
shall remain in force till the final disposal of the Writ Petition before the
Writ Court, being WP (C) No.1260/2025, and that the claims of the
respective parties shall be governed by the final decision of the Writ Court.
43. Letters Patent Appeal is, thus, disposed of, along with the
connected CM.
(SHAHZAD AZEEM) (SINDHU SHARMA)
JUDGE JUDGE
SRINAGAR
February 20th, 2026
"TAHIR"
i. Whether the Judgment is approved for reporting? Yes.
Tahir Manzoor Bhat
I attest to the accuracy and
authenticity of this
document
