JAMMU: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Jammu administration to file a fresh and detailed affidavit on alleged encroachments involving religious structures built on public streets, parks and other public places.
The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani while hearing a public interest litigation concerning encroachment of public land for religious structures.
The Court observed that a status report submitted by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, in compliance with an earlier order had identified certain encroachments on State, Kahcharai and Shamilat Deh land. However, the report did not clearly spell out whether religious structures existed on public streets, parks or other public spaces.
The Bench also sought details of action taken to remove existing encroachments and the steps adopted to prevent fresh violations.
Senior Additional Advocate General, appearing for the UT Administration, sought time to submit the detailed affidavit. The Court granted six weeks for filing the fresh report.
Advocate Pariksha Parmar appeared as Amicus Curiae. The matter has been listed for October 12, 2026, along with OWP No. 1/2019 pending before the Srinagar Wing of the High Court.