High Court of J&K and Ladakh Revives PIL Over Rs 922 Crore Raika Complex Delay

Jammu, August 14, 2026 – Six months after the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh closed a public interest litigation on assurances of "substantial progress," not a single brick has been laid at the proposed site. The Division Bench of Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani has now revived the PIL, pulling the authorities back to court over the languishing ₹922 crore project for the new High Court complex at Raika.

The Long Wait for a New Judicial Hub

The PIL, filed by advocate Arjun Gandotra, originally sought directions to respondents, including the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the central government, to release the full ₹922 crore allocated for the project and to provide a timeline for construction. The foundation stone for the Raika complex, envisioned as an eco-friendly campus on 40 hectares of forest land, was laid by former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in June 2023. Despite this ceremonial start, visible work has yet to begin.

In February 2026, the court disposed of the petition after the respondent authorities submitted that "substantial progress" had been made in formulating the proposal. The court, at that time, recorded its expectation that efforts would yield results within a few months and granted liberty to the petitioner to revive the plea if concrete outcomes did not materialize.

" No Visible Progress on the Ground "

Fast forward to August 2026: the petitioner returned to court, arguing that the assurance had proven empty. Appearing through Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi , Gandotra submitted that despite the six-month gap, there was "still no visible progress on the ground " – not even preparatory construction activity. The application to recall the February order and revive the main petition was supported by an affidavit detailing the continued inertia.

The court found merit in the submission. Allowing the application, the Bench noted: “For the reasons set out in the application, duly supported with an affidavit, coupled with the submissions made by Mr. Sunil Sethi, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner/applicant, the same is allowed and the order dated 06.02.2026 is recalled and the main writ petition is revived to its original number.”

A Prima Facie Case for Scrutiny

Turning to the main writ petition, the court observed that a “prima facie case for issuance of notice is made out.” It issued notice to all respondents, who promptly waived service through their counsel. The court then directed the respondents to file a comprehensive status report detailing the concrete steps taken for raising construction of the High Court Complex at Raika.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 29, 2026 , giving the authorities roughly two weeks to explain why the project remains stalled.

Implications for the Stalled Project

The revival of this PIL signals the court's firm intention to monitor the progress of the Raika complex closely. The petitioners hope that judicial oversight will catalyze the release of funds and actual construction. For now, all eyes turn to the status report due later this month – and the questions it must answer about a ₹922 crore project that, on ground, is still just a plan.

Key Observations from the Order

  • "Despite lapse of six months, there is no visible progress on the ground ."
  • " Prima facie case for issuance of notice is made out."
  • "The respondents shall file status report with regard to steps taken by them for raising construction of High Court Complex at Raika by the next date of hearing."

Next Hearing: August 29, 2026