Jammu & Kashmir High Court’s Directive on Women’s Seat Reservation
In a landmark decision on August 10, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court mandated the Transport Commissioner to enforce female seat reservation and safety measures in public buses. This directive is part of the court’s response to the case Monisa Manzoor Mir V/s Union Territory of J&K.
The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani, emphasized that seats allocated for women in public transport must be distinctly marked with ‘Reserved for Ladies’ in bold lettering. The court’s order aligns with circular No. 3 TC/2025, which specifies that seats 1 to 12 in large buses and 1 to 9 in mini buses should be designated for women.
Enhancing Public Transport Safety for Women
The court also tasked the J&K Legal Service Authority with organizing awareness campaigns. These initiatives aim to educate bus drivers and helpers on their responsibility in ensuring that women have access to their reserved seating.
This judicial directive arose from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Monisa Manzoor Mir. The PIL highlighted the inadequate implementation of seat reservation and other protective measures for women within public transport systems across Jammu & Kashmir.
Upon reviewing the PIL, the court initially notified the Union Territory on February 20, requesting a detailed response to the issues raised. During the August 10 proceedings, the court addressed these concerns by issuing comprehensive instructions to the relevant authorities.
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Mechanisms for Addressing Women’s Grievances
In addition to seat reservation, the court instructed the Department of Transport and the Traffic Police to develop a robust mechanism for addressing complaints from female commuters. This system is intended to facilitate prompt grievance redressal.
The court’s directives must be promptly implemented by the concerned authorities, who are required to submit a compliance report by the next hearing scheduled for October 6.
Advocate Monisa Manzoor represented herself in court, while Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin S Qadri, accompanied by Assisting Counsel Maha Majeed, represented the respondents. The full text of the court’s order is available for review.
