Jammu and Kashmir High Court revives PIL on new High Court complex at Raika

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has revived a public interest litigation (PIL) case seeking the prompt construction of a new building for the High Court's Jammu wing in Raika [Arjun Gandotra v. UT of J&K]..The foundation stone for the construction of the new High Court building complex was laid by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud in June 2023. In 2025, a petition was filed before the High Court raising questions about the slow progress of the project. This plea was closed in February this year, after the Court was assured that there was substantial progress in the project. However, the petitioner re-approached the High Court recently with a plea to recall its February order and revive the case, in view of continuing delays. The petitioner - advocate Arjun Gandotra - pointed out that no visible construction or preparatory activity had taken place on the ground. On August 14, a Division Bench comprising Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani decided to revive the case and sought a status report from the authorities. "Prime 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," the Court said in its August 14 order. .The matter was then heard on August 29, with the authorities sought two more weeks' time to file their detailed status report. The Court gave them three weeks to do so."We grant three weeks’ time to the respondents to do the needful, failing which, appropriate orders shall follow," the Court said.The case will be heard next on September 18..The matter concerns the construction a new building complex for the High Court's Jammu Bench at Raika. The proposed new complex was planned as an eco-friendly judicial campus spread over approximately 40 hectares of Raika-Bahu forest land.A detailed Project Report for the proposed complex was prepared in November 2022, with the estimated cost of the project being ₹922 crore. Following a meeting held on March 1, 2023, between the High Court's Chief Justice and the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, it was decided that the administrative approval and fund release for the project would be expedited. The foundation stone of the project was subsequently laid on June 28, 2023, by the-then CJI Dr DY Chandrachud, in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor, Supreme Court judges and High Court judges..However, in the wake of delays noticed thereafter in the project, a PIL was filed by advocate Arjun Gandotra in the matter. The plea sought directions for the release and allocation of the entire ₹922 crore earmarked for the construction of the proposed High Court complex at Raika in a time-bound manner. The plea also urged the Court to call for a comprehensive Action Taken Report, setting out the steps taken and timelines put in place for implementing the project.The petition highlighted several infrastructure-related constraints at the existing High Court complex at Jammu's Janipur, including limited access, traffic congestion, inadequate parking facilities and concerns relating to fire safety, security, structural requirements and accessibility.It was also pointed out that the High Court and the District Court at Jammu presently share the same campus, leaving limited scope for future expansion of the Jammu Bench of the High Court at its present location. .This PIL had earlier been closed by the High Court on February 6, 2026, after the Division Bench was informed that substantial progress had been made in framing the proposal for and developing a new building for the Jammu Wing of the High Court."We are sanguine that the deliberations and efforts made by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and both the UTs shall yield fruitful results within few months. Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to get it revived in the event efforts made by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and both the UTs do not fructify into concrete results," the Court had said at the time, in its February 6 order. The petitioner has now pointed out that even after the lapse of over six months since this order, there has been no visible progress on the ground. The Court has, therefore, agreed revive the PIL and has sought status reports on the steps taken by the authorities to construct the new High Court building. .Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi, assisted by advocate Navyug Sethi, appeared for the petitioner.Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli, assisted by advocate Sagira Jaffar, represented the Jammu and Kashmir administration. Deputy Solicitor General of India Vishal Sharma, assisted by Central government Standing Counsel Karan Sharma, and advocate Basit Manzoor Keng represented other respondents. .[Read Orders]