Srinagar, April 3 -- A bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M.A. Chowdhary also ordered that in case the affidavit was not filed then the Director Social Welfare Department, shall appear in person on the next date of hearing on April 16.

The Division Bench's order followed perusal of a report of court's Registry that no affidavit, as directed in terms of orders dated 22 July 2024 and 30 December 2024 respectively, has been filed till date.

Also, Government advocate Faheem Nissar Shah, sought one week's time as "final opportunity" to do the needful.

As per the petitioner, a "not-for-profit trust", one of the main reasons why women put up with daily abuse and violence is that there is no other place for them to go where they ...