Srinagar, September 12: ANB; The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Union Territory administration, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to provide suitable accommodation for the Press Club of Kashmir.
The directive came in response to a petition filed by the club’s president, M. Saleem Pandit, who sought permanent premises for the institution, which is currently functioning from a hotel at Amira Kadal, Srinagar.
In an interim order, Justice Javid Iqbal Wani directed the government to either restore the club’s earlier premises at Polo View, Srinagar, or arrange alternative accommodation that meets its requirements. The court admitted the writ of mandamus and listed the case for the next hearing on October 7, 2025. The petition also sought a grant of ₹5 crore to support the club’s operations, citing a similar sanction given to the previous management in 2018.
Welcoming the court’s intervention, Pandit hailed the order as “justice delivered to the valley’s journalists.” He announced that fresh memberships would only be approved after police verification to prevent misuse and ensure credibility.
Pandit also unveiled the club’s vision document, pledging to safeguard journalists’ welfare, uphold professional standards, and protect the dignity of the fraternity. He urged media professionals to shun unethical practices, including blackmail, which he said erode the credibility of journalism.
On the matter of elections, Pandit clarified that polls for the executive body would be held only once the club is fully functional with the necessary infrastructure in place. He alleged that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was attempting to influence the process by pushing his own nominees into the body.
He emphasized that only journalists with clean professional records, free from anti-social associations, and with sound educational credentials would be eligible to contest future elections. Pandit further revealed that the constitution of the Press Club of Kashmir has been formally endorsed by the J&K government following approvals from the Law Department and the Registrar of Societies.
ANB
