In a dramatic turn of events, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has summoned Shyambir, the Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal, over accusations that he attempted to frame Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Fayaz Ahmed Qureshi in a false case. The allegations arose from suspicions that the IAS officer sought revenge against the judge for a prior adverse ruling.
The Bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Atul Sreedharan, issued a stern notice on August 2, demanding Shyambir’s personal appearance before the court on August 5. The court’s warning was clear: any attempt by the Deputy Commissioner to evade the summons or fail to appear would result in serious consequences, including coercive measures to ensure his presence.
This case finds its roots in a civil suit concerning land acquisition compensation. Several landowners had turned to the trial court, claiming they had not received due compensation from the government. In January, the CJM ordered the payment of compensation, which remained unfulfilled by June, prompting the court to attach the salaries of the responsible district officials, including Shyambir.
The situation took a darker turn when Shyambir allegedly initiated an investigation into a property owned by CJM Qureshi, suggesting a retaliatory motive linked to the salary attachment order. The property, which had been in Qureshi’s possession for fifteen years, was suddenly scrutinized, raising concerns of a fabricated case to discredit and harass the judge.
CJM Qureshi’s July 23 order detailed the conspiracy, highlighting how Shyambir and other officials aimed to scandalize and manipulate him through baseless accusations. The judge noted that Shyambir’s actions included ordering a local authority to investigate and demarcate the judge’s land, a clear attempt to intimidate and undermine his position.
Despite being given multiple opportunities to respond, Shyambir remained uncooperative, leading the CJM to refer the matter to the High Court on August 1. The seriousness of the allegations has prompted the High Court to seek the assistance of Senior Advocate RA Jan as an amicus curiae.
The High Court will reconvene on August 5 to further deliberate on this high-stakes contempt case.
