The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Union Territory’s administration to set up tribunals to deal with what it described as a “chaotic” situation, as at least 29 licensees of Waqf Board properties filed petitions against the Board’s “arbitrary, irrational and exorbitant enhancement of monthly rent”. As the Board claimed that it does not come under the court’s jurisdiction, the Bench directed the constitution of tribunals under the Waqf Act, 1995.
“While dismissing the writ petitions and taking note of the chaotic situation created due to non constitution of the Tribunal or Tribunals, a direction is issued to the Government of Union Territory to constitute one or more Tribunals, as it may think fit, in terms of Section 83 of the Act within a period of two months from the date of this judgment,” J&K High Court judge Sanjeev Kumar observed.
The court also directed that status quo must be maintained in such matters “till the Government constitutes Tribunal/Tribunals”.
