A Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed Commissioner/Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs J&K Government and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to submit the status regarding the shifting of Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Kishtwar from Old Complex to the new complex and consequent upon shifting of the District Court Complex to the Old Deputy Commissioner’s Office complex in terms of letter dated December, 27, 2011 issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.These court directions were passed in open court on Tuesday in a PIL filed by Bar Association Kishtwar through its President I.A. Hamal seeking directions to the State Government to immediately ensure the handing over of entire Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex Kishtwar for use of District Courts Kishtwar as the prevalent District Court Complex is not adequate to cater the need of the Judiciary /Lawyers/Litigants.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocate Sheikh Najeeb Ashraf appearing for the petitioner-Association and Deputy Advocate General P.S. Chandel for Law Department and AAG Ehsan Mirza for Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, the Division Bench issued notices to Secretary Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar in the first instance which were accepted by Deputy AG P.S. Chandel and AAG Ehsan Mirza.Advocate S.S. Ahmed according to CNS appearing for the PIL submitted that all courts in Kishtwar continue to function in the old existing structure constructed as back as in the year 1963 and the existing District Court Complex is not sufficient to accommodate the aforementioned courts properly and the Judicial Officers/Lawyers/Litigants/Prosecution/Public at large are facing acute shortage of space and in all the same is adversely affecting the administration of justice in a remote/ hilly District Kishtwar.
After considering the submissions of both the sides, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed Commissioner/Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs J&K Government and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to submit the status regarding the shifting of Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Kishtwar from Old Complex to the new complex and consequent upon shifting of the District Court Complex to the Old Deputy Commissioner’s Office complex in terms of letter dated December, 27, 2011 issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. (CNS)