Jammu, July 18. The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has fixed August 7, 2025 for hearing the long-pending PIL related to the multi-crore Arms Licences Scam. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal directed re-listing of the case, which could not be heard Thursday due to paucity of time.
The court was informed by Sr. AAG Mohsin Qadri and Counsel Maha Majeed that the General Administration Department (GAD) has submitted a fresh status report as directed in April. Petitioners’ counsel Advocate S.S. Ahmed confirmed receiving the report.
The scam, under CBI investigation since 2018, involves the issuance of over 2.63 lakh arms licences across J&K between 2012 and 2016 by various District Magistrates allegedly in exchange for bribes. The CBI has registered two FIRs and filed over 15 charge-sheets, primarily against JKAS officers, while prosecution sanction against 9 IAS officers remains largely pending—only one has been sanctioned and charge-sheeted.
The PIL highlights deep-rooted corruption and the J&K Government’s alleged reluctance to act against high-ranking officials. The matter will now be taken up on August 7 for further consideration. [KNT]
