IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No. 3199/2026 Decided on: 23.06.2026 Akshay Kumar …..Petitioner Versus Deputy Commissioner Bilaspur & Ors. .....Respondents ………………………………………………………………………………… Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner: Mr. Surinder Saklani, Advocate. For the respondents: Mr. Sikander Bhushan, Deputy Advocate General. Jyotsna Rewal Dua, J. Petitioner’s grievance in this writ petition relates to the issuance of character certificate in his favour. Pursuant to the order passed in the writ petition on 18.03.2026, learned Deputy Advocate General has placed on record a copy of office instructions dated 23.06.2026 from the Naib Tehsildar, Bharari, District Bilaspur, H.P., which inter alia convey as under: - “Thereafter, the applicant filed a writ petition before the Hon'ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh titled "Akshay Kumar Vs. State of Himachal Pradesh & Others". Subsequently, the Sub Divisional Magistrate-cum-Executive Magistrate, Ghumarwin, vide Letter No. GMR-EA-2(48)/2016-8428-30 dated 04.06.2026, conveyed instructions that in cases where an applicant has already been 1 Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 acquitted by the competent Court of law, the Character Certificate shall be issued without mentioning the section code. In compliance with the aforesaid instructions, this office proposes to issue a fresh Character Certificate in favour of Shri Akshay Kumar S/o Shri Baldev Raj, Village Bara Da Ghat, Sub Tehsil Bharari, District Bilaspur, H.P., without mentioning any section code, as he has already been acquitted by the Learned Court vide judgment dated 30.07.2025.” Since the respondents have undertaken to issue a fresh character certificate in favour of the petitioner without mentioning the criminal case, in view of his acquittal therein, this writ petition is disposed of with liberty reserved to the petitioner to apply to the concerned authority for issuance of the character certificate. In case such an application is made within a period of one week from today, the same shall be considered and the requisite certificate, in accordance with law & keeping in view the above order, shall be issued to the petitioner within a period of one week from the date of application and, in any event, not later than that. Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of accordingly. Jyotsna Rewal Dua Judge 23rd June, 2026 (rohit)