The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has asked the Union Territory to place a single, category-wise chart on record showing how many fire stations are required and how many are actually working. A Bench of Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Yash Paul Bourney passed the direction on 27 October 2026 in a public interest litigation filed by Mohd Rahoof Khan against the Union Territory of J&K and others.
Background
Mr. Khan, an advocate appearing in person, submitted that the firefighting policy was not being implemented, which he said put the general public at risk. Senior AAG Monika Kohli, for the respondents, drew the Court’s attention to paragraph 7 of her reply filed on 2 July 2025.
That paragraph lists the parameters set by the Standing Fire Advisory Council of the Ministry of Home Affairs: population, topography, risk factor and response time from the nearest fire station. It provides for one D category fire station per 50,000 population. Areas are grouped as high-risk (A), medium-risk (B), low-risk (C) and rural or least-risk (D). The first fire tender should reach A, B and C areas in three to five minutes, and D areas in 20 minutes. The reply also stated:
“The 10 sq. km area per Fire Station scale in view of the above is not mandatory. In high risk zones the areas may be lowered.”
Noting these submissions, the Bench asked the counsel how many fire stations or firefighting establishments fall under each category in the Union Territory. It then framed three questions. The first reads:
“How many areas in the UT fall within each of the four risk categories, namely, high-risk (A), medium-risk (B), low-risk (C) and rural/low-risk (D)? The authorities shall furnish the exact number of areas falling under each category.”
The Court also wanted to know how many establishments are required in each category under the prescribed norms, and how many are presently functional.
The Bench directed:
“Learned Senior AAG Ms. Monika Kohli shall furnish a single, consolidated, category-wise chart setting out the aforesaid particulars, supported by an affidavit.”
The matter has been listed for 17 November 2026.
Case Details
Case Title: Mohd Rahoof Khan v. Union Territory of J and K and Ors
Case Number: WP(C)PIL 13/2024 with CM(5842/2024)
Judge: Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Yash Paul Bourney
Decision Date: 27 October 2026
