J&K Tenancy Act: Bar Association Ramban seeks review

Ramban, Nov 22: The Bar Association Ramban on Saturday raised strong objections to the recent transfer of judicial and quasi-judicial powers to revenue authorities and the implementation of the J&K Tenancy Act.

The concerns were voiced during a press briefing led by the Association’s secretary, Asif Hamid Itoo, accompanied by Fairoz Khan, Samrat Prahrir and other members.

Speaking on behalf of the Association, Itoo said the Bar fully supported the stance taken by the presidents of the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, and the Kashmir Bar Association, Srinagar. He noted that shifting traditional judicial functions to revenue officials disrupted the institutional balance and created procedural confusion for both advocates and litigants.

Members of the Association argued that revenue officers, though experienced in administrative work, were not institutionally equipped to handle matters requiring judicial interpretation and application of law. They said this transition already led to delays, misinterpretation of legal provisions, and additional procedural hurdles—issues they believe could have been avoided through consultation with the legal community.

The Association appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, to reconsider and withdraw the circulars and notifications assigning judicial responsibilities to executive authorities.