J&K High Court pleads policy of withholding government accommodation by former CM Azad, BJP’s Raina

Ghulam Nabi Azad. Files | Photo credit: Nissar Ahmad

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday asked the Union Territory (UT) administration to explain the policy under which political functionaries were allowed to retain government accommodation in J&K. It was hearing a case involving Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chief minister of J&K, and Ravinder Raina, former president of the J&K unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“As regards the policy in UT J&K governing the retention of government accommodation which has been applied in this case and from which the designated committee derives its power to consider whether such government accommodation must be retained for political persons,” observed a bench of Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri.

The observation followed Additional Advocate General (AAG) Monica Kohli’s submission that the issue of maintaining the residences of Mr. Azad and Mr. Raina was brought before the Designated Committee in its meeting on August 14, 2026.

The court was informed that the committee had recommended the continuation of allotments. The competent authority allowed the retention until March 2027 “or until the next review”, the AAG said.

However, the Bench sought further clarification. Ms Kohli asked for time “to sort out the issues by filing the relevant affidavit and to assist this court on the uniform policy”.

The case will be heard again on November 12, 2026.

In a similar case in 2022, the court refused to protect any of the affected persons from being evicted from government properties on security grounds.

Mr Azad was the Chief Minister of J&K from 2 November 2005 to 11 July 2008. Mr Raina was the President of the J&K BJP unit from 13 May 2018 to 3 November 2024.

Published – 15 Oct 2026 04:51 IST