JUDGMENT :

1. The petitioner through the medium of this petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeks a direction to the respondents in the nature of Writ of Certiorari to quash the “Verification of Character and Antecedents Certificate” issued by the respondent No. 4-Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Mahore with regard to him, which, inter-alia, describes him as history sheeter as on 19.11.2022, besides being under surveillance.

2. It has been pleaded that the petitioner is a responsible and dignified person, who always leads his life in accordance with law, besides abiding by all the norms/requirements that a citizen is required to abide by; that he is a known politician and had contested the State Legislative Assembly Elections in the year 2014 from 56-Gulabgarh Constituency in District Reasi; that he enjoys respect and reverence in his society in particular and in the political circles of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir in general.

3. It has been alleged that out of political vendetta, various imaginary, baseless and manipulated cases were registered against the petitioner, vide following FIRs:-

(i) FIR No. 45/2009; U/Ss 341, 323 and 148 RPC;

(ii) FIR No. 45/2013; U/S