J&K And Ladakh High Court Seeks Category-Wise Details Of Fire Stations Required & Functional Under SFAC Norms
The Bench asked Senior AAG for a single consolidated chart, supported by an affidavit, on areas falling in risk categories A, B, C and D.
The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has asked the Union Territory to furnish category-wise details of the fire stations or firefighting establishments required to be functional under the policy norms of the Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC), and of those presently functional. The direction came in a public interest litigation alleging non-implementation of the firefighting policy.
The Division Bench asked the Senior Additional Advocate General to place a single, consolidated, category-wise chart on record, supported by an affidavit. It must state how many areas fall within each of four risk categories: high-risk (A), medium-risk (B), low-risk (C) and rural/low-risk (D). The Senior AAG is to furnish the consolidated chart with an affidavit, and the matter is listed on November 17, 2026.
A Bench of Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Yash Paul Bourney formulated four questions: "How many areas in the UT fall within each of the four risk categories, namely, high-risk (A), medium-risk (B), low-risk (C) and rural/low-risk (D)? The authorities shall furnish the exact number of areas falling under each category. II. How many fire stations or firefighting establishments are required to be functional in each of the aforesaid categories, in accordance with the policy and the prescribed norms? III. Out of the fire stations or firefighting establishments required to be functional under the aforesaid policy, how many are presently functional in each category?'.
Advocate Mohd Rahoof Khan appeared in person while Monika Kohli, Senior AAG appeared for the respondent.
The petitioner, Advocate Mohd Rahoof Khan, appeared in person in the matter, submitted that there is a gross violation of policy, putting the general public at risk due to non-implementation of the firefighting policy. These are the petitioner’s submissions, and the order records no finding on them.
The Senior AAG for the respondents, took the Court to paragraph 7 of her reply dated July 2, 2025. It sets out the SFAC parameters of population, topography, risk factor and response time. The reply records one “D” category fire station for 50,000 population, and one station per 10 sq km in urban areas and 50 sq km in rural areas. It states that the 10 sq km scale is not mandatory and may be lowered in high-risk zones. Suggested maximum response times are three minutes for Zone A, five minutes for Zones B and C and 20 minutes for Zone D. The reply estimates about Rs. 130 lakh to establish a fire station.
Cause Title: Mohd Rahoof Khan v. Union Territory of J&K and Ors. WP(C)PIL 13/2024.
Appearances:
Petitioner: Advocate Mohd Rahoof Khan, petitioner in person.
Respondent: Monika Kohli, Senior AAG.