Jammu & Kashmir High Court
Shan Ali vs Ut Of J&K & Ors on 20 April, 2026
Author: Rahul Bharti
Bench: Rahul Bharti
Regular List
Serial No. 10
HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH
AT JAMMU
WP(C) No. 908/2026
Shan Ali .....Petitioner(s)
Through: Mr. Jagpaul Sharma, Advocate.
Vs
UT of J&K & Ors. .....Respondent(s)
Through: Mr. Ravinder Gupta, AAG.
Coram: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAHUL BHARTI, JUDGE
ORDER
(20.04.2026)
1. Pursuant to order of this Court, Sh. Rajesh Sharma,
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua is present. Likewise,
Mr. Predhyum Atri (JKAS), Tehsildar Bani is also present in
person.
2. Mr. Ravinder Gupta, learned AAG representing
respondents No. 1 and 2 as also Sh. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy
Commissioner, Kathua, draw the attention of this Court to
annexure-VI (page No. 27) which is stated by the petitioner to be
a notice purportedly issued from the office of the Tehsildar, Bani.
3. This notice does not bear any reference number as well
as any date and yet it is attributed to Mr. Predhyum Atri (JKAS),
Tehsildar Bani.
4. Mr. Predhyum Atri (JKAS), Tehsildar Bani states before
this Court that from his office’s end, no such notice was ever put
into existence or effect, much less placed in any public domain for
2 WP(C) No. 908/2026
the petitioner to come across it and use it as an annexure in the
High Court for the exploit of this writ petition.
5. This is too serious a matter to be taken causally, in the
sense that if Mr. Predhyum Atri (JKAS), Tehsildar Bani is to be
believed in terms of his statement, then it is to be figured out as
to how this document has come into existence or whether it has
been created by the petitioner to prejudice this court’s mind
particularly by reference to text of notice in terms whereof it is
being meant that the Tehsildar Bani is withdrawing the
notification for the selection to the post of Chowkidar for village
Lowang in view of the order of this Court in a case titled “Shan
Ali Vs. UT of J&K & Anr.“.
6. This Court needs to observe that the name of the
petitioner in the order dated 11.04.2025 in WP(C) No. 905/2025
is not Shain Ali but Shan Ali alias Shain Ali whereas in the
alleged notice it is the alias name Shain Ali which has been
referred to meaning thereby that the notice if not issued by
Mr. Predhyum Atri (JKAS), Tehsildar Bani is definitely a product
of a dubious mindset and that requires to be sorted out.
7. When pointed out by this Court to Mr. Jagpaul Singh,
learned Advocate for the petitioner as to the source of the notice
landing in the hand of the petitioner, he submits that it was in a
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revenue officials’ group and that some revenue officials might
have provided a copy to the petitioner.
8. Mr. Jagpaul Singh, learned Advocate for the petitioner
submits that he had confronted the petitioner that how can a
purported notice from the office of the Tehsildar Bani be said to
be on that group of revenue officials with a shared platform
bearing a notice which is without any reference number and date
in response to be told by the petitioner that some revenue official
had provided the same to him.
9. Under these circumstances, this Court directs Sh. Rajesh
Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua to enquire into the fact
as to whether there exists any such revenue officials’ group on
social media or official app for sharing order/notice/notification
or for that matter, the matter of any official nature for the notice
of all concerned revenue officials.
10. Requisite report be submitted by or before next date of
hearing for which he shall be well within his right to ask for
assistance from any agency and authority which shall be bound
to lend assistance asked for.
11. This Court has reproduced the aforesaid reference for the
consideration of Sh. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner,
Kathua to take the aforesaid aspect into serious notice as the
matter may at surface level seem to be very innocuous one but
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has serious repercussions as to whether the administrative
working of the District Kathua is being compromised in the
manner as is being referred to.
12. Needful be done at the end of Sh. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy
Commissioner, Kathua by or before the next date of hearing.
13. List in continuation on 04.05.2026 along with WP(C) No.
905/2025.
14. In the meantime, this Court directs Mr. Predhyum Atri
(JKAS), Tehsildar Bani to assign the duties of Chowkidar to be
handled by person who is incumbent Lambardar of the village
Lowang till next date of hearing and consequently the engagement
of Gulam Abas, temporary appointed as Chowkidar for village
Lowang shall remain in abeyance.
15. A copy of this order be provided to Mr. Ravinder Gupta,
learned AAG for notice and compliance from the end of the
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua.
(RAHUL BHARTI)
JUDGE
JAMMU
20.04.2026
Shivalee
Shivalee Khajuria
2026.04.22 13:14
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document