J&K’s Advocate General post should ideally be filled by next date of hearing, observes J&K High Court hearing PIL petition

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 14 (STC): Responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has issued a notice in this regard to the J&K government, observing that the post should be filled by the next date of hearing.
The PIL petition is seeking immediate appointment of an Advocate General for the Union Territory.
The PIL filed by advocate Harsh Dubey has sought directions to the competent authority to take immediate steps to fill the constitutional post. The petition was filed through advocate Kannu Karan Prasher.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajnesh Oswal directed the Chief Secretary and Law Secretary to respond to the PIL by October 21, the next date of hearing.
The Court observed that the post of Advocate General should ideally be filled by the next date.
Advocate General’s post in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has remained vacant since the resignation of Advocate General DC Raina in October 2024.
Raina resigned after the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government took charge in the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, as per the petition, the continued vacancy of the constitutional office is affecting the administration of justice and the discharge of statutory functions attached to the post.
The plea points out that the vacancy has also impacted the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Advocates Welfare Fund Trustee Committee since the Advocate General serves as its ex-officio Chairperson under the Advocates’ Welfare Fund Act, 2001.

(Straight Talk Communications I Inputs from Bar and Bench)