Supreme Court Seeks Response Of J&K HC On Plea Alleging Backdoor Appointments Of Administrative Staff

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Jammu and Kashmir on a petition which alleged that backdoor appointments of administrative staff were taking place at the J&K judiciary.

The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala was hearing a petition filed by Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Forum alleging that relatives of existing members of the staff as well as present and former Judges of the High Court have been appointed without following due selection process.

On the request of the counsel appearing on behalf of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir, the bench extended the time for filing the counter affidavit by a further period of four weeks.

"Counter shall be filed by Registrar of J&K HC after specifically taking instructions and directions from CJ of J&K High Court", the bench stated in the order. 

"We'll ask the Chief Justice of High Court to look into the grievance of the petition", CJI orally remarked while hearing the petition. The matter will be next heard on April 28.

The petition assails appointments made from 2007 onwards adhoc or through advertisements as 'suspicious'. The petition provides a list indicative of the existing members of staff and the Judges of High Court who have extended favour to their kin and kith.

The petitioner questions the appointments of administrative staff made in the  Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Subordinate Courts, State Judicial Academy, Legal Services Authority, and the E-Court Mission Mode Project.

It alleges that there was lack of transparent selection process in making these appointments. It further submits that no public notice or advertisement had been issued and the appointees were chosen in the most arbitrary manner.

The petition submits that there were highly qualified candidates who could have been appointed if a fair selection process was adopted. It alleges that there are a host of daily wagers working in various courts for more than a decade who have not been regularised.  

Case Title: Jammu And Kashmir Peoples Forum v. High Court of Jammu And Kashmir And Ors. W.P.(C) No. 702/2022

Click here to read the order