MLAs’ nomination: Hearing adjourned to Nov 21

Jammu, Oct 17: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has adjourned the hearing to November 21, in the case related to the nomination of five MLAs, on the request of the counsel for the petitioner.

As the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) came up for hearing on October 16, 2025 before the special Division Bench, comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Rajesh Sekhri, the counsel for petitioner S M Chaudhary apprised the court about the non-availability of senior counsel i.e., senior Supreme Court lawyer Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, on account of his (Singhvi’s) preoccupation on Thursday (October 16, 2025) and sought adjournment.

The request was not opposed by the other side.

The petitioner’s counsel requested that the court be ready to argue the case the next day, i.e., October 17, 2025. However, the court didn’t agree to his plea and posted the case for hearing on November 21, 2025.

The counsel for the petitioner also apprised the court about reports that the respondents were planning to go for nominations.

Upon this, the court observed, “They (respondents) have not done it in one year, so they shall not do so.”

Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI) Vishal Sharma appeared for respondents, while Ch Zulkernain Chaudhary appeared for intervenor Ravinder Singh.Petitioner Ravinder Kumar Sharma, ex-MLC was also present in the court during proceedings.

Sharma, who is also the chief spokesperson of JKPCC, has challenged the powers of nomination of five MLAs to the J&K Assembly by the Lieutenant Governor and the constitutionality of these provisions of nominations in the J&K Reorganisation Act.