MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday suspended the AJK High Court’s decision of declaring the appointments of several patwaris in Sudhnoti district null and void.
A two-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Azad Jammu and Kashmir Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan and Senior Judge Justice Raza Ali Khan, has announced the verdict.
Renowned lawyer Barrister Humayun Nawaz filed an appeal in the apex court on behalf of the affected patwaris of Sudhnoti.
Earlier last week, the High Court of AJK declared the appointments of nine patwaris in Sudhnoti district illegal, ruling that their induction without public advertisement violated mandatory recruitment rules.
The initial appointments of patwaris of Sidhnoti District recruited after 1991 were declared null and void.
The apex court has also suspended the High Court’s decision on the inquiry into the recruitment of all patwaris across AJK after the promulgation of the 1991 rules.
The High Court Justice Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed had directed the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) to inquire into these recruitments and pass an appropriate order regarding those made without advertisement of the posts and from unqualified persons.
The High Court had also taken notice of non-compliance with an earlier judgement of the court dated September 5, 2025, in which similar directions were issued regarding patwari appointments.
Justice Chaudhry Khalid directed the office to issue a separate compliance notice (robkar) to the SMBR, requiring him to submit a detailed reply.
