HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT JAMMU WP(C) No. 475/2026 CM No. 1115/2026 CM No. 1114/2026 Inhabitants of Village Jandore & Ors. …..Appellant(s)/Petitioner(s) Through: Mr. Ajay Bakshi, Advocate vs UT of J&K & Ors. .…. Respondent(s) Through: Mr. Raman Sharma, AAG with Ms. Jagmeet Kour, Advocate CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE M A CHOWDHARY, JUDGE ORDER (27.02.2026) 01. The inhabitants of Village Jandore, Block Barnoti, District Kathua, through four persons, namely Tarsem Singh, Gulzar Singh, Labh Singh and Dhruv Singh, have approached this Court by way of the present writ petition on the basis of a resolution adopted by the residents of Village Jandore, seeking quashment of e-NIT No. 177 dated 22.03.2025 of REW Kathua for the year 2024–25, whereby the work for construction of Panchayat Ghar, Jandore, Block Barnoti, under RGSA for the year 2024– 25 has been allotted in favour of respondent No. 4. The petitioners further seek a direction to respondent No. 3 to issue a fresh e-NIT for construction of the Panchayat Ghar, Jandore, near the roadside at a central location within the village, and to direct the official respondents to consider construction of the Panchayat Ghar at a suitable and centrally located place in the village. 02. Learned counsel for the petitioners in furtherance of the above, submits that although the proposed construction of Panchayat Ghar, Jandore was Serial No. 250 2 allotted to respondent No. 4 on 22.03.2025, however, the construction is proposed to be raised at a site which is inconvenient and not easily accessible to the inhabitants of the village. It is contended that the proposed site is not approachable from the main road and, therefore, would not serve the interests of the villagers who are intended beneficiaries of the Panchayat Ghar. 03. It is further submitted that the matter was taken up by the petitioners with the Block Development Officer, Barnoti, on 27.06.2025, who, in turn, took up the matter with the Tehsildar, Kathua, requesting that roadside State land be provided at the earliest for construction of the Panchayat Ghar at Jandore so that the same may be easily accessible to all residents and the work may commence without delay. It has been alleged that no action has been taken by the concerned authorities on the request and representation of the petitioners for construction of the Panchayat Ghar at a central and convenient location, and that respondent No. 6 is about to commence construction at a site which is inconvenient to the villagers. 04. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners would be satisfied, in the event, the present petition is disposed of at this stage, with a direction to the competent authority to consider and decide the representation, in accordance with law. 05. In view of the pleadings and submissions made at the Bar, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to District Development Commissioner, Kathua, and the Assistant Commissioner (Development), Kathua, to treat this writ petition, as a representation filed on behalf of the petitioners and to take a considered decision with regard to the setting up of the Panchayat Ghar at a suitable and convenient place, in consultation 3 with the inhabitants of Village Jandore. The aforesaid decision shall be taken within a period of one month from the date a copy of this order is furnished to the said authorities. 06. Meanwhile, it is directed status quo as on date shall be maintained with regard to proposed construction of Panchayat Ghar in village Jandore, till a decision is taken by the aforestated competent authorities. 07. The petition is thus disposed of, alongwith pending application(s). (M A CHOWDHARY) JUDGE Jammu 27.02.2026 Amit