The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has issued a notice to the J&K government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking immediate appointment of an Advocate General for the Union Territory [Harsh Dubey V/s UT of J&K]
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. Since then, the Lieutenant Governor and National Conference government haven't been able to fill the vital post.
The PIL filed by advocate Harsh Dubey has sought directions to the competent authority to take immediate steps to fill the constitutional post.
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.
The petition was filed through advocate Kannu Karan Prasher.