Full name: Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo
Date of birth: 16 February 1922
Place of residence: Srinagar
Date of death: 04 November 1989
Place of death: Hari Singh Street Market, Srinagar
FIR / Case No.: 237/1989 of PS Shaheed Gunj
Remembrance & Record
Life Summary: Justice Ganjoo served as a judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court and was widely regarded as a man of integrity and firm commitment to the rule of law. Known for his calm demeanor and principled decision-making, he upheld constitutional values at a time when doing so carried personal risk. Even after retirement, he continued to live in Srinagar, reflecting his deep connection to the land and its people.
Circumstances of Death: Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo was shot dead by militants while returning home from the market in Srinagar. He was targeted due to his judicial role in adjudicating terrorism-related cases during a period of escalating militancy in Jammu & Kashmir. His assassination was part of a broader campaign of intimidation against individuals associated with institutions of law and governance.
Known Perpetrators (if documented/verified): Contemporary reports and subsequent investigations have attributed the attack to militants affiliated with the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
Family Details: According to biographical information available on secondary sources, Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo is survived by his sons S. K. Ganjoo and Vijay Kumar Ganjoo, and his daughter Urmila Raina, along with his grandchildren, who continue to carry forward his memory and legacy.
Tribute: Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo lived and died in service of the rule of law. His unwavering commitment to justice, even in the face of mortal danger, stands as a lasting testament to judicial courage and moral integrity. He is remembered not only as a judge, but as a martyr to constitutional values and human conscience.
Reopening of Investigation (2023): In August 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) reopened the 1989 assassination case of Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo to investigate the broader criminal conspiracy behind his killing. The fresh probe forms part of a renewed examination of cases from 1989–1990, a period marked by targeted violence and the subsequent exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community. A special investigation team has been constituted, and the SIA has appealed to the public for information. The reopening of the case, though long overdue, has been welcomed by the family as a step toward truth and accountability.
