Jammu, Aug 31: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and other concerned departments to file a fresh, comprehensive and time-bound affidavit detailing action taken or proposed against establishments violating building, parking and fire-safety norms.

Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal issued the directions on August 27, 2026, while hearing OWP No. 122/2002, after the court was informed that the affidavit submitted in compliance with its earlier July 2 order failed to adequately address the issues raised.
The court directed the authorities to clearly specify the measures already taken or proposed against defaulting establishments and provide a definite timeline for completing the enforcement exercise. The matter has been listed for September 3, 2026, as Case No. 1.
The Bench warned that failure to comply with its directions could result in “appropriate coercive proceedings” against the Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation; Director, Fire and Emergency Services; Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority; and Inspector General of Police (Traffic).
The case relates to the implementation of the court’s July 2 directions requiring the JMC Commissioner to conduct a comprehensive survey of hotels, commercial establishments, coaching institutes and other public-facing buildings within the Corporation’s jurisdiction.
The survey is required to identify establishments operating without sanctioned building plans or in violation of approved plans, those lacking mandatory parking facilities and premises functioning without valid fire-safety clearances or adequate safety arrangements.
Authorities have also been directed to identify establishments lacking other mandatory statutory permissions, licences and clearances.
For violations, the July order empowers authorities to take action strictly in accordance with law, including sealing, demolition of unauthorised constructions, withdrawal of permissions, closure, prosecution and recovery of penalties, wherever warranted.
The court had further directed the JMC to coordinate with the Fire and Emergency Services, Jammu Development Authority, Traffic Police and other departments to ensure effective and coordinated enforcement.
During the latest hearing, senior advocate Rahul Pant pointed out that the affidavit filed by the authorities was deficient and did not address the specific requirements of the July order. The court subsequently directed submission of a fresh affidavit covering the entire scope of its earlier directions.
The affidavit must include details of establishments within the JMC limits, building permissions, occupancy and completion certificates, violations of sanctioned plans, parking deficiencies, fire-safety compliance, inspection mechanisms and action taken against defaulters.
The court has also sought a time-bound action plan covering the survey, identification of violations, issuance of notices and subsequent enforcement action.
Justice Nargal directed that the fresh affidavit be filed before September 3, with an advance copy supplied to the concerned counsel. Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli and senior counsel Adarsh Sharma have also been asked to appear and apprise the court of the steps taken by the departments.
The directions underscore the court’s insistence on effective enforcement of safety and building regulations, rather than merely filing compliance reports