HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU Case: WP(C) No. 2598/2026 Mukhtar Ahmed ..... Petitioner(s)/Appellant(s) Through :- Mr. Ajaz Choudhary, Advocate Vs U.T. of J&K and Ors. .....Respondent(s) Through :- Ms. Saliqa Sheikh, Advocate vice Mr. Raman Sharma, AAG CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE WASIM SADIQ NARGAL, JUDGE ORDER 18.08.2026 01. Learned counsel for the petitioner has drawn attention of this Court to the select panel issued by the concerned ZEO, Kotranka Budhal, wherein the petitioner figures as the only candidate possessing the qualification of 10+2 and belonging to the Scheduled Tribe category. 02. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the case of the petitioner is required to be accorded due consideration in light of the judgment passed by the Apex Court in U.T. of J&K and Ors. Vs. Saba Wani, particularly when the petitioner figures in the select panel and there is no legal impediment in the way of the respondents to consider his case in terms of law laid down by the Apex Court. 03. In light of the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner and having regard to the record produced along with the instant petition, no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the petition pending, as the same can be disposed of at the very threshold by directing respondent Nos. 2 to 4 to accord consideration to the case of the petitioner in light of the judgment passed Sr. No. 198 2 | P a g e WP(C) No. 2598/2026 by the Hon’ble Apex Court mentioned supra within a reasonable period. Learned counsel for the respondents, who has waived notice, has no objection to such a recourse, subject to the petitioner figuring in the select panel and there being no legal impediment in the way of such consideration. 04. Since an innocuous prayer has been made by learned counsel for the petitioner, no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the instant petition pending. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of at the threshold by directing respondent Nos. 2 to 4 to accord due consideration to the case of the petitioner in light of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in case titled U.T. of J&K and Ors. Vs. Saba Wani decided on 30.04.2026, as the petitioner being the only candidate figures in the select panel. Such consideration shall be accorded within a period of four weeks from the date a copy of this order, along with the writ petition and annexures are made available to the said respondents, strictly in accordance with the applicable rules and law, provided there is no legal impediment. 05. Needless to say, in case the respondents consider it necessary to hear the petitioner or any other stakeholder for the purpose of according such consideration, they shall be at liberty to do so. In such an eventuality, the petitioner shall also be at liberty to produce any additional material or record as may be relevant for facilitating such consideration. 06. The writ petition is disposed of along with all connected application(s) in the manner indicated above. (WASIM SADIQ NARGAL) JUDGE JAMMU 18.08.2026 Mihul