MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court on Friday declined to suspend a High Court order that had put on hold dozens of appointments and related notifications in the High Court establishment, pending proceedings on a writ petition alleging large-scale irregularities.

The matter came before Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram on an application moved by four of the affected parties, through advocate Manzoor Hussain Raja, along with their petition for leave to appeal (PLA) against the Aug 21 order of the High Court.

The applicants had sought urgent hearing and an ad-interimex-parterelief for suspension of the High Court’s interim order. However, after hearing the counsel at some length, the apex court held that the request did not merit immediate relief.

Instead, the court issued notices to the respondents to explain why the relief sought should not be granted, allowing them to file objections if any. The application, the court said, would be taken up along with the PLA after its completion in the registry office.

The apex court did not immediately fix the next date of hearing.

On Thursday, Justice Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed of the High Court had suspended award lists, appointment orders and notifications relating to dozens of posts ranging from IT managers and stenographers to Class-IV employees, issued between 2020 and 2025. The suspension will remain effective until Sept 2, the next date of hearing.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2025