Serial No. 10 HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU Inhabitants of Village Ashmar Famrote …..Petitioner(s)

Through: Mr. M. Nadeem Bhat, Advocate.

Vs Rajeev Ranjan & Ors.

.….Respondent(s)

Through: Ms. Nazia Fazal, Advocate vice Mrs. Monika Kohli, Sr. AAG.

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAHUL BHARTI, JUDGE

ORDER

(01.12.2025)

01. Locus and status of a local Panchayat to be beneficiary of payment of compensation for the land acquired relatable to Panchayat is said to have been confirmed by this Court in a case titled “Habibullah Sheikh & Ors. Vs. State of J&K & Ors.” reported in 2008 (3) JKJ (HC) 170, on the basis whereof the writ petition WP(C) No. 3737/2019 came to be filed in the name of Inhabitants of Village Ashmar Farmote through the then Sarpanch Mohd. Amin, who was in office on the accrual of cause of action that in the year 1998 the land was acquired for road construction by the Deputy Commissioner, Ramban and Collector Land Acquisition, Gool which led to the passing of the award with mention of common land of village acquired and which land was Maksoosa Kacharai.

02. The respondents in the said writ petition are said to have admitted that Panchayat was entitled to the compensation provided the Indenting Department comes forward with the payment of compensation to the Collector Land Acquisition concerned.

03. The writ petition came to be disposed of in terms of order dated 22.11.2024 with a direction unto the writ respondent No. 4 i.e. Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Division Ramban to deposit the amount of compensation in favour of the Panchayat within a period of eight weeks and outer period being three months. 04. In order dated 22.11.2024, the writ court came to make a reference that an award No. SDM/G/PWD/302-08 dated 24.11.2017 for an amount of Rs. 2,37,61,016/- for the land acquired in village Movelkote and vide No. Acq./Gen./1098 dated 08.01.2013 for an amount of Rs. 58,41,375/- for village Ashmar was payable to the land owners which include even the Panchayat concerned.

05. In the name of the writ petitioner, namely, Inhabitants of Village Ashmar Farmote acting through same very person as Sarpanch who then was and now is said to have been relieved of the said responsibility, has come forward with the present contempt petition alleging non-compliance.

06. Issue notice to the respondents.

07. For the time being, this Court restricts issuance of notice only to respondents No. 2 & 3 who are Deputy Commissioner, Ramban and Collector Land Acquisition, Gool, district Ramban to come forward with the statement of facts to the contempt petition.

08. Notice accepted on behalf of the respondents No. 2 & 3 by Ms.

Nazia Fazal, Assisting Counsel to Mrs. Monika Kohli, learned Sr. AAG.

09. Registry is directed to attach the record of the main writ petition WP(C) No. 3737/2019.

10. List on 30.12.2025.

11. Learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to provide a copy of the paper-book to Ms. Nazia Fazal, Assisting Counsel to Mrs. Monika Kohli, learned Sr. AAG for the respondents.

(RAHUL BHARTI JUDGE JAMMU

01.12.2025 Shivalee Shivalee Khajuria 2025.12.04 18:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of thi s document