J&K High Court Revives PIL Seeking Release of Rs. 922 Crore for New High Court Complex at Raika

Six months after closing the PIL on assurances of progress, a Division Bench revived it after no visible construction activity appeared at the Raika site.

A Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, comprising Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani, on 14 August 2026 recalled its earlier order dated 6 February 2026 that had closed a public interest litigation, and revived the petition to its original number. The PIL, filed by Arjun Gandotra, a practising advocate, seeks to compel the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Government to release the full allocation of Rs. 922 crore for construction of a new High Court Complex at Raika in Jammu. The bench revived proceedings after accepting the petitioner’s submission that six months had elapsed since the earlier closure order and no construction activity or even preparatory work was visible on the ground.

The Dispute Before the High Court

Gandotra had originally filed WP(C) PIL No. 13/2025 seeking two distinct directions. The first was a command to respondent Nos. 1, 2, and 7 — broadly, the UT administration and the Union Government — to release and allocate the full sum of Rs. 922 crore for construction of the High Court Complex at Raika within three months. The second was a direction to respondent Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 to file a comprehensive action-taken report detailing the steps taken and the timelines set for implementing the project.

The petition stalled in February 2026. At that stage, the Court had closed the proceedings after counsel for respondent No. 8 represented that substantial progress had been made in formulating the proposal for construction of the new building of the Jammu Wing of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Raika. Accepting those assurances, the bench passed its order dated 6 February 2026 bringing the PIL to a close.

Application to Recall and Revival

Gandotra then filed CM No. 5457/2026, an application to recall the February order and revive the writ petition. The application was supported by an affidavit. Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi, appearing with Advocate Navyug Sethi for the petitioner, argued that despite the passage of six months from the date of closure, there was no visible progress on the ground — no construction, and not even preparatory work at the Raika site.

All respondents accepted notice without objection. Ms. Sagira Jaffar, Advocate, waived notice for respondent Nos. 1, 3, and 4. Mr. Karan Sharma, learned Central Government Standing Counsel, waived notice for respondent Nos. 2, 5, 6, and 7. Mr. Basit Manzoor Keng, Advocate, waived notice for respondent No. 8. On the other side, respondent No. 1 was represented by Ms. Monika Kohli, Senior Additional Advocate General, and the Union-side respondents by Mr. Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India.

How the Bench Reasoned

The Division Bench found the grounds set out in the application, backed by the affidavit and Sethi’s oral submissions, sufficient to warrant recall. The court accepted that the February 2026 order had been passed on the basis of assurances that substantial progress was underway. The total absence of any visible activity on the ground in the intervening six months contradicted those assurances. On that basis, the bench found a prima facie case for issuance of notice in the revived writ petition as well.

The bench disposed of the recall application after allowing it and simultaneously took the main petition on board. It issued fresh notice to the respondents in the revived PIL and directed each of them to file a status report on steps taken for raising the construction of the High Court Complex at Raika before the next date of hearing.

Order

By its order dated 14 August 2026, the Division Bench allowed CM No. 5457/2026, recalled the order dated 6 February 2026, and revived WP(C) PIL No. 13/2025 to its original number. The application was disposed of. The main petition was taken on board. Fresh notice was issued. All respondents were directed to file a status report on construction steps taken at Raika before the next listed date. The matter is listed for 29 August 2026.