TEJ NATH KOUL Vs. STATE AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this petition, the petitioners inter alia seek the following reliefs:

(2.) As per the facts pleaded in the writ petition, there is a property known as Nagbal and is comprised of different temples and other property belonging to minority community/Hindus of the valley. The said property according to the petitioners is being managed by Nagbal Prabandak Committee, Anantnag, Kashmir. The fathers of petitioner Nos. 1, 2 and 3 as well as father of petitioner No. 4 were carrying on their business in the shops let out to them by the aforesaid committee. The shops were locked when the fathers of the petitioners migrated from the valley on 2nd/3rd of May, 1990. The rent of the shops was paid up to May, 1990.

(3.) The respondent No. 6 filed an application before District Magistrate, Anantnag on 25.02.2014 for permission to get the locks open for two shops of the ground floor of the building and to make an inventory of the stock on the ground that the shops are in dilapidated condition. Thereupon, a notice was published by the Additional District Magistrate, Anantnag. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag directed the Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Division, Khanabal to visit the spot and verify the condition with regard to safety of the structure. The District Magistrate, Anantnag by an order dated 07.08.2014 directed that the locks be opened and the possession of the shops be handed over to respondent No. 6 for renovation of the shops. In the aforesaid factual background, the petitioners have approached this Court.