12/09/2025
PRESS RELEASE: High Court Directs J&K Govt to Allot Accommodation to Press Club of Kashmir.
Srinagar, September 12: The Hon’ble High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the J&K government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to provide suitable accommodation to the Press Club of Kashmir.
The directive followed the club’s president, M. Saleem Pandit, approaching the court to seek the allotment of proper space for the institution's smooth functioning, which is currently being operated out of a hotel at Amira Kadal, Srinagar.
In his interim order, Hon’ble Justice Javid Iqbal Wani directed the government to either restore the club’s previous premises at Polo View, Srinagar, or provide an alternative accommodation that meets its requirements. The court further instructed the government to consider the petitioner's plea effectively.
The High Court also admitted the writ of mandamus and fixed the next hearing for October 7, 2025. The petitioner additionally sought the sanction of ₹5 crore for running the club, citing a similar grant provided to the previous body in 2018.
Addressing a press conference at a local hotel, Mr. Pandit thanked the court for delivering justice to the valley’s journalists. He announced that membership to the club will be granted only after police verification to remove misgivings among journalists in the future.
He also outlined the vision document of the Press Club of Kashmir, emphasising its role in improving the welfare of journalists and helping them live with dignity as responsible members of society. Mr. Pandit urged journalists to uphold professionalism, maintain dignity, and refrain from practices such as blackmail, which, he said, bring disrepute to the fraternity.
Responding to a query, Mr. Pandit said that elections to the Press Club will be conducted only after the institution becomes fully operational with all necessary facilities in place. He alleged that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was keen to place his own nominees in the executive body of the club. Responding to a query, Mr. Pandit said that elections to the Press Club will be held only after the institution becomes fully operational with all necessary facilities in place. He alleged that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was eager to appoint his own nominees to the executive body of the club to manage it according to his party’s interests. Mr. Pandit further stated that only journalists with clean records, free from any anti-social tags, and possessing a sound educational background would be eligible to contest the elections to run it according to his party’s interests.
Mr. Pandit further stated that only journalists with clean records, free from any anti-social tags, and possessing a sound educational background would be eligible to contest the elections.
He further disclosed that the constitution of the Press Club of Kashmir had been formally endorsed by the Jammu and Kashmir government, after receiving approval from both the Law Department and the Registrar of Societies.
The constitution of the Press Club of Kashmir had been officially endorsed by the Jammu and Kashmir government after receiving approval from both the Law Department and the Registrar of Societies.
General Secretary
Zulfikar Majid
