Srinagar, Feb 22: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh directed the government to maintain a status quo regarding the elections of Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Board (SGPB) for Kashmir Division.
Hearing a plea challenging election notice for SGPB for Kashmir Division, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul directed the government authorities to produce a record relating to the case before it by the next date of hearing.
The court while issuing notice to the authorities granted two weeks’ time to respondents to file reply to the plea.
“In the meantime, subject to objections and till next date before the Bench, status quo as on date with regard to elections shall be maintained,” Justice Koul said while posting the matter for hearing on March 15.
The court was hearing a plea filed by the Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee through its President S. Kulwant Singh challenging the notice of election issued by the Returning Officer (Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir) Sikh Gurdwara Committee Board Election, Kashmir Division on February 17, 2023 for election of SGPB.
By virtue of the notice issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, have been allotted one seat or member and districts of Baramulla and Bandipora have been shown two seats or members.
Petitioner challenged the notice primarily on the ground that in district Bandipora there is no Sikh population or Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, as such, there is no representation that would partake in elections from district Bandipora.
The petitioner counsel, Mir Suhail submitted that petitioner has filed representation before the Committee stating that the seat of Pulwama has been shifted to district Bandipora notwithstanding the fact that there is neither any Sikh population nor any elected Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in district Bandipora.
“Whereas, at the same time, district Pulwama has a huge population of Sikhs, but this fact of the matter has not been considered by the Committee.”
In support of submissions, counsel Suhail while pointing towards a notice issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir on February 13, 2023 strenuously contended that the said notice itself reflects and shows that there is no population of Sikh Community in district Bandipora and “as a consequence of which, impugned notice qua district Bandipora requires to be set at naught inasmuch as it will badly affect the rights of Sikh Community of district Pulwama.”
The court after hearing the counsel said, “a prima facie case is made out for grant of ad interim relief at this stage.”
Selected Haj pilgrims asked to arrange Saudi Riyals of their own
Srinagar, Feb 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee has this year dispensed with the practice of providing Saudi Riyals to the selected haj pilgrims for Hajj-2023.
In an official handout issued here, the authorities at Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee has informed that no foreign exchange in terms of 2100 Saudi Riyals previously provided by the Hajj Committee to selected Hajj Pilgrims on account of incurring day to day expenditure in Saudi Arabia shall be provided to the selected pilgrims this year by the Haj Committee.
Meanwhile in view of above, all the intending Hajj pilgrims of Hajj 2023 who are desirous to undertake Hajj Journey/get selected are hereby informed to obtain the required foreign exchange in Saudi Riyals at their own before leaving for Hajj.
