Srinagar, August 11, KDC: Expressing surprise over claims made in a service petition where several individuals alleged to have been appointed as daily wagers as young children, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the petitioners to file an affidavit explaining how they were engaged while still minors.
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar passed the order in a writ petition filed by Mst. Kulsuma Banoo and others against the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and other respondents, seeking relief based on their alleged past daily wage service.
The petitioners claimed before the Court that they were employed as daily wagers in government departments between 1988 and 1992. However, upon examining the official record and the age details provided in the petition, the Bench noticed glaring age discrepancies relative to the period of their alleged initial engagement.
The Court observed that most of the petitioners were minors at the relevant time during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with some being under 10 years of age when they were allegedly taken on as daily wagers.
“The petitioners, in the writ petition, have claimed that they were employed as dailywagers from the years 1988 to 1992. The age of the petitioners reflected in the petition reveals that most of the petitioners were minor at the relevant time and in fact some of the petitioners were less than 10 years of age at the relevant time,” the Court noted.
Taking serious note of the discrepancy, Justice Sanjay Dhar directed the petitioners to explain the exact manner and circumstances under which they were allegedly engaged while still minors.
“The petitioners shall explain as to how and in what manner they were engaged while they were minor. An affidavit in this regard shall be filed by the petitioners by next date of hearing,” the Bench ordered.
The High Court has slated the matter for further hearing on August 18, 2026. (KDC)
