HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU OWP No. 2373/2018 Veena Manchanda Aged 70 years W/O Late Surjeet Lal Manchanda, R/O House No.100, Mohalla Partap Garh, (Daira Alif Shah), Jammu (J&K). .. Petitioner(s) Through: None. Vs 1. State of Jammu & Kashmir Through Chief Secretary, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. 2. Commissioner/Secretary, Law Department, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. 3. Commissioner/Secretary, Haj & Aquaf Department, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. 4. Administrator, Aquaf Department, Jammu. 5. Special Officer, Haj & Auqaf Department, J&K Government, Jammu/Srinagar. .…. Respondent(s) Through: Ms. Monika Kohli, Sr. AAG for R-1&2. Mr. S. S. Nanda, Sr. AAG for R-3& 5. Mr. Ayjaz Lone, Advocate for R-4. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MA CHOWDHARY, JUDGE ORDER 10.07.2025 1. The petitioner, claiming to be tenant/allottee and holding possession over the Wakafs property of respondents situate at Jammu and apprehending that she may be evicted from the properties held by her legally, in view of the new enactment of the J&K Wakafs Act, 2001, allegedly being ultra vires to the Sr.No. 1 2 Constitution, through the medium of this petition, prayed for the following relief(s): “(a) Allow this writ petition of the petitioner. (b) By issuance of writ of Certiorari quash Clause „O‟ of Section 3 of Wakaf Act and consequently Section 45 which enables the respondents to treat the persons in unauthorized occupation merely on account of no renewal of the Lease Agreements; (c) By a writ of Certiorari quash impugned Notice No.AUQ- J/02/325/3670-72 dated 07.11.2017 issued by respondent no.4 to petitioner. (d) By issuance of writ of Mandamus command the respondents to renew the lease Agreement of the petitioner and to allow the petitioner to reside there notwithstanding the provisions contained in Clause „O‟ of Section 3 and other corresponding provisions under the Wakaf Act. ” 2. Respondent no.4 has filed its objections to the writ petition, contradicting assertions made in the petition, seeking its dismissal. 3. Learned counsel for the respondents submit that this petition has been rendered infructuous in view of repealing of the J&K Wakafs Act, 2001 sought to be declared as ultra vires to the Constitution in terms of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 enacted by Parliament of India. Learned counsel for respondent no.4 has fairly stated at the Bar that he has instructions to inform the Court that the respondents-Wakafs shall not act upon the impugned notice in view of application of new enactment on the subject and submits that the respondents-Wakafs be held at liberty to proceed against the petitioner in case they so desire and are entitled to, to proceed in the matter, as per the new applicable law. The statement of learned counsel is taken on record. 4. In the year 2019, existing State of Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, with enactment 3 of J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 (Act No.34 of 2019). Chapter XIV of the Act deals with Legal and Miscellaneous Provisions. Section 96 of this Chapter/Act provided as under: “96. Power to adapt laws For the purpose of facilitating the application in relation to the successor Union Territories, of any law made before the appointed day, as detailed in [Fifth Schedule to this Act], the Central Government may, before the expiration of one year from that day, by order, make such adaptations and modifications of the law, whether by way of repeal or amendment, as may be necessary or expedient, and thereupon every such law shall have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications so made until altered, repealed or amended by a competent Legislature or other competent authority.” Table -1 of 5th Schedule of the Act, deals with Central Laws made applicable to the UTs of J&K and Ladakh. At Serial No.104, The Wakafs Act, 1995 with the requisite amendment was made applicable to the twin UTs, whereas 3rd Table dealt with State Laws including Governor’s Act which were repealed in both the new UTs. The J&K Wakafs Act, 2001 finds its place at Sr. No.152 in this Table. The J&K Reorganisation Act was enforced w.e.f. 31.10.2019 as notified vide S.O. 2889(E) of 2019 dated 09.08.2019 issued by Department of Jammu & Kashmir Affairs of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 5. With application of Central Law, The Wakafs Act, 1995 and repealing of J&K Wakafs Act, 2001, in the UT of J&K in the year 2019, the petition on hand, seeking quashment of impugned notice as well as to declare Clause (O) of Section 3 and Section 45 of the J&K Wakafs Act, 2001 as unconstitutional becomes redundant and infructuous, particularly, in view of the statement made by the learned counsel for the respondent-Wakafs that the impugned notice shall not be acted upon by the respondent Wakafs and the liberty be granted 4 reserving their right to proceed against the petitioner if warranted in terms of the new applicable law. 6. Viewed thus, the petition is partially disposed of having been rendered infructuous along with application(s). Impugned notice, however, in view of statement made on behalf of respondent No.4, is quashed. The interim direction, if any, shall stand vacated. The respondent No.4, if chooses to proceed against the petitioner, shall deal with the matter in accordance with the Wakafs Act, 1995. 7. No costs. ( (MA Chowdhary) Judge Jammu 10.07.2025 Raj Kumar Raj Kumar 2025.07.16 15:27 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document