HC orders fresh verification in SMVDU land acquisition case, modifies earlier judgment

21/05/2026
Jammu, May 20: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Collector Land Acquisition, Katra, to verify whether the house of late Baj Singh was acquired for establishment of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) and whether his legal heirs are entitled to allotment of a residential plot under the applicable rehabilitation scheme. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswalpassed the order while disposing of an appeal filed by the legal heirs of ...

HC upholds Ayush Medical Officer selection, says higher-merit candidates cannot be displaced

16/05/2026
Jammu, May 15: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a petition challenging the selection process for appointment of Medical Officers (Ayush) under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in District Anantnag, holding that selections based on higher merit cannot be faulted. Justice Sanjay Dhar dismissed a petition filed by Dr. Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, who had challenged the selection list issued vide No. DCA/NRHM/13/3912-19 dated November 9, 2013, along with appointments ma...

HC quashes two PSA detention orders, says constitutional safeguards cannot be empty formality

16/05/2026
Jammu, May 15: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed two separate detention orders issued under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), observing that constitutional safeguards in preventive detention matters cannot be reduced to an empty formality. Justice Sanjay Dhar allowed habeas corpus petitions filed by Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Rayees Ahmad Lone, challenging their preventive detention orders passed by the District Magis-trates of Srinagar and Ganderbal, respectiv...

SC asks Kapurs not to do anything that may affect mediation process

15/05/2026
New Delhi, May 14: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked late industrialist Sunjay Kapur's mother Rani Kapur and his wife Priya Kapur, embroiled in a dispute over the family trust, not to do anything that could directly affect mediation proceedings. The apex court on May 7 appointed former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to act as mediator in the dispute. On Thursday, the top court observed that it would be in the interest of all parties concerned to put an end to the entire dispute amica...

Nine-judge SC bench reserves order on pleas pertaining to religious discrimination against women

15/05/2026
New Delhi, May 14: A nine-judge Supreme Court bench on Thursday reserved its order on petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including Sabarimala temple of Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths. A constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard the matter for 16 days and took note of arguments made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior advocates C S Vaidyanathan, Abhishek Singhvi, Mukul Rohatgi, Indir...

Delhi HC questions Siddharth Varadarajan over non-disclosure of Allahabad HC order, recalls OCI relief

15/05/2026
New Delhi, May 14: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned journalist and The Wire founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan for not disclosing an Allahabad High Court order that required him to take permission before travelling abroad. Calling the issue "very serious", Justice Purusha-indra Kumar Kaurav said the matter could have serious consequences and asked Varadarajan to exp-lain his conduct by filing an affidavit. The issue came up while the court was hearing Varadarajan's plea seeking...

HC restores dismissal of ex-J&K Bank branch head in misconduct case

15/05/2026
Jammu, May 14: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has held that a bank officer dealing with public funds occupies a position of trust and is expected to discharge duties with utmost integrity, honesty and diligence while handling financial transactions. A Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar made the observation while allowing a Letters Patent Appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir Bank against a Single Bench judgment that had quashed the dismissal of forme...