High Court Suspends Order Issued by Bijnor जिलाधिकारी

High Court Rulings on जिलाधिकारी Authority in Bijnor

The Allahabad High Court has formally suspended an administrative directive issued by the Bijnor जिलाधिकारी concerning the management of the traditional annual 'Jahar Diwan' or Goga Navami fair. During the proceedings, a bench comprising Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Vivek Saran observed that the directive was prima facie outside the jurisdiction of the office.

The bench delivered strong remarks, emphasizing that district magistrates must not function as though they are 'almighty' rulers within their respective jurisdictions. The court noted that administrative heads should refrain from issuing mandates that fall outside their legal scope and instead belong to other district-level officials or judges.

Background of the Disputed Fair Management Order

The controversy stems from an administrative decree enacted on August 29, 2025. At that time, IAS officer Jasjit Kaur served as the district magistrate of Bijnor before transferring the following month, when IAS officer Umesh Pratap Singh assumed the role. Under the initial directive, control of the traditional festival was handed over to the village assembly, and earnings from the event were channeled to the village body through a three-member committee of revenue officers.

Challenging this administrative action, the management committee of Public Arya Inter College alongside another party approached the High Court with a writ petition.

Prior Civil Court Rulings and Legal Conflict

During the hearings, the High Court took note of previous civil litigation involving the petitioners, the village assembly, and opposing factions regarding the rights to conduct the festival. Records showed a civil suit had been decided in favor of the petitioners on December 2, 1997, by the second additional civil judge (senior division) in Bijnor, originating from an original suit filed in 1982.

The bench highlighted that the district magistrate's recent ruling directly contradicted the historic civil court judgment secured by the petitioners. Although the directive was framed as an interim arrangement, the court found it exercised sweeping powers typically reserved for a civil court planning a trust's management.

Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings

Concluding that the directive lacked proper legal authority or jurisdiction, the High Court accepted the writ petition. The bench granted state respondents a two-week window to submit their replies. Additionally, a formal notice was issued to respondent number six, with a mandated response deadline set for November 17, 2026.

Sources: Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan, Jagran.