Srinagar: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has stayed the operation of an order impugned by the Union Territory administration against the Siraj ul Uloom Welfare Foundation, Hillow, Shopian while directing that students’ education must not be disrupted.
A Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani passed the order in CM(M) 496/2026, filed by the Union Territory of J&K and others against the foundation and another respondent.
With Senior Advocate Z A Qureshi appearing for the respondents, the court discharged the caveat filed in the matter.
Notice was waived by Razia Amin, counsel for the respondents, who was granted four weeks to file objections.
The case will next be heard on February 1, 2027.
“In the meantime, subject to objections and till the next date of hearing, the operation of the impugned order is stayed,” the Bench said.
It clarified that students, if any, studying in the school run by the respondent company on the date the order was issued “shall not be disturbed.”
The petitioners must ensure their ongoing studies and future education are not adversely affected, it said.
The Bench also directed the Trial Court to proceed with deciding the issues raised and to dispose of the main petition on merits.
The Union Territory was represented by Senior AAG Mohsin S. Qadri and Maha Majeed.
The institution, Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom is located in Hillow village of Shopian district in south Kashmir. More than 800 students were enrolled from Class 1 to 12 there.
The institute was closed on April 24, following the J&K administration’s order declaring it an “unlawful entity” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The order came from Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg, over alleged links with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
An official dossier also cited allegations related to land use and financial transparency.
Institution chairman Muhammad Shafi Lone has denied any links with the organisation.
In June, the National Company Law Tribunal appointed a provisional liquidator for the foundation and restrained it from disposing of assets, based on a CID report.
On September 24, a Shopian court ordered the reopening of the seminary as interim relief.
