Jammu and Kashmir Senior Advocate Shah Mohammad Chowdhary passes away

Jammu and Kashmir Senior Advocate Shah Mohammad Chowdhary passed away on Thursday. He was 62. The Senior Counsel suffered a heart attack.

Following his demise, the J&K High Court Bar Association at Jammu issued a condolence notice and announced that members of the association will abstain from work on November 13 (Friday) as a mark of respect.

Chowdhary enrolled as an advocate with the J&K Bar on March 3,1993.

During his legal career spanning more than three decades, he remained associated with several significant matters before the High Court and subordinate courts.

Chowdhary was particularly known for his involvement in public interest litigation, besides his advocacy on matters relating to the rights and welfare of the Gujjar-Bakerwal community and preservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage.

Among the notable matters associated with him was a PIL challenging the nomination of eight members to the erstwhile J&K Legislative Council. The litigation remained pending before the High Court for several years and was ultimately disposed off after the Legislative Council ceased to exist following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

He had also approached the High Court seeking intervention for the preservation of the Mubarak Mandi heritage complex, museums, archives and historical records. The proceedings resulted in judicial directions concerning measures for preservation and protection of the region’s valuable heritage.

Chowdhary also played an active role in matters concerning tribal rights and development. He served as a member of the J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Gujjar and Bakerwals and served as Chairman of the Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT).