Gulmarg Fashion Show: Srinagar Court To Hear Case Against Organizers On April 8

A Srinagar court has scheduled a hearing for April 8, 2025, in connection with the controversial fashion show held in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramzan.

The event has sparked allegations of obscenity and claims of hurting religious sentiments.

Allegations & Legal Proceedings

According to Advocate Naveed Bukhtiyar, who spoke to the media, the fashion show organized in Gulmarg involved “obscene” content and public consumption of alcohol, actions that were deeply offensive to local religious sentiments. A social activist, disturbed by the event, filed a complaint against the organizers, leading to the legal proceedings.

The court has reviewed the complaint and, in accordance with the law, scheduled a hearing for the accused on April 8. The case is being pursued under Sections 296 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) and Section 50-A of the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act, 1958. The accused have been notified and will be given an opportunity to present their side before any action is taken.

Public & Political Outrage

The fashion show, held on March 7, 2025, in Gulmarg, quickly became the subject of widespread public and political outrage. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged that the hotel hosting the event was owned by his relatives, specifically his family’s two hotels, Nedous and Highland Park, in the region.

However, Omar Abdullah clarified that such events were outside the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir government. He emphasized that the government was not in favor of organizing such events, stating, “The basis for organising such an event has not been shared with us… we have never been in favour of such decisions.” He added that any violation of the law would prompt appropriate action.

Chief Minister’s Statement & Public Response

In the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Omar Abdullah noted that, although the event was organized by private parties, it should not have taken place, especially during Ramzan. “From what I saw, it should not have been organised at any time of the year, let alone the month of Ramzan,” he remarked.

Kashmir’s top cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed outrage over the event, calling it “outrageous” and criticizing the organization of such an event in the holy month of Ramzan. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he condemned the fashion show as a form of “obscenity in the name of tourism promotion,” stating, “Such obscenity will not be tolerated in #Kashmir!”

Looking Ahead

As the court hearing approaches, the controversy continues to stir debate in Kashmir, with public opinion sharply divided over the event. The outcome of the legal proceedings will likely have implications for the future of similar events in the region, especially during sensitive periods like Ramzan. The government has indicated that if any laws were violated during the fashion show, appropriate action will be taken.

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