Petition for Special Bench for Migrant Cases in J&K High Court

On 8 October 1998, Advocate Pyare Lal Kaul submitted a formal representation to the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, highlighting the urgent need for judicial intervention in matters concerning displaced persons from the Kashmir Valley.

Being himself one of the migrants displaced since 1990, Kaul drew from personal experience and collective suffering to emphasize the hardships faced by the community. In his petition, he requested the appointment or constitution of a Special Bench at Jammu dedicated to handling cases already filed or to be filed by migrants, ensuring their speedy disposal.

He pointed out that the migrant community had been facing prolonged delays due to administrative inefficiencies, legal bottlenecks, and systemic neglect. According to Kaul, these issues were not only causing legal injustice but also worsening the socio-economic condition of displaced families.

The petition also criticized excessive bureaucratic delays and red-tapism within the administrative and executive systems, which contributed to the continued suffering of migrants. Kaul stressed that the term “migrants” itself was misleading, as these individuals were in reality displaced and dislodged persons forced out of their homes under distressing circumstances.

Copies of the representation were also sent to key authorities including the President of India, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Union Ministers, and the Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, indicating the seriousness and national importance of the issue.

Through this initiative, Pyare Lal Kaul sought not only legal relief but also recognition of the struggles of the displaced community, urging authorities to take timely and compassionate action to address their grievances and ensure justice.