In a development that has brought relief to villagers in Poonch district, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has directed the local revenue authorities to restore a long-blocked pathway within four weeks. The court was hearing a plea filed by Tazeem Akhter and others, who alleged that despite a clear directive from the Deputy Commissioner in 2023, the access road to their property remained obstructed.
Background
The dispute revolves around a narrow pathway located in Khasra Nos. 2099 and 2101 of Haveli tehsil, Poonch. The Deputy Commissioner, in April 2023, had ordered its restoration after examining rival claims. However, the order was never implemented due to subsequent legal wrangling.
The respondents had approached the High Court earlier in WP(C) No. 840/2024 (Mohamad Magrey & Anr. vs Union Territory of J&K & Ors), which was dismissed in August 2025. Even after that, they filed a Letters Patent Appeal (LPA No. 209/2025), only to withdraw it two months later. With that withdrawal, the Deputy Commissioner’s order became final, but the ground situation remained unchanged - the pathway was still blocked.
Court’s Observations
Hearing the matter on October 18, 2025, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal noted that the petitioners were not seeking any new relief but merely wanted implementation of an already upheld administrative order. The judge remarked that there was “no legal impediment coming in the way of respondent No. 3 to act in furtherance of the said order.”
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel M.K. Sharma argued that the only thing needed was a directive to the Tehsildar of Haveli to carry out the order of the Deputy Commissioner. The counsel for the government, advocate Chetna Manhas, did not oppose this request, signaling readiness to close the matter swiftly.
“The bench observed, ‘Since the order of the Deputy Commissioner has attained finality, the revenue authorities must act without delay to restore the pathway and remove obstacles in accordance with rules,’” one official present at the hearing shared.
Decision
Concluding that “no fruitful purpose would be served to keep this petition pending,” the court directed the Tehsildar, Haveli, to implement the Deputy Commissioner’s 2023 order within four weeks and submit a compliance report within two additional weeks to the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch.
With this, the writ petition was disposed of. The order, simple yet decisive, has now placed responsibility squarely on the local authorities to ensure villagers regain access to their traditional route - something they’ve been waiting for since 2023.
Case: Tazeem Akhter & Others vs Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir & Others
Case Number: WP(C) No. 2952/2025
Petitioners’ Counsel: Mr. M.K. Sharma, Advocate
Respondents’ Counsel: Ms. Chetna Manhas, Advocate (Vice Ms. Monika Kohli, Sr. AAG)
Date of Order: 18 October 2025
