Prayagraj: Observing that district magistrates cannot act like ‘plenipotentiaries’, the Allahabad high court on Tuesday suspended an order passed by the Bijnor DM concerning the management of the traditional annual ‘Jaahar Diwan’ (Goga Navami) fair, observing that the order was prima facie without jurisdiction and amounted to an apparent usurpation of jurisdiction.It further noted that the order, though framed as an interim arrangement, involved a sweeping exercise of powers resembling that of a civil court framing a scheme for the management of a trust.The court also permitted the petitioners to hold and organise the fair in Pheona village, Bijnor, subject to obtaining the necessary permission from the authorities.A division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Vivek Saran said: “We have, time and again, cautioned DMs not to exercise powers as if they are plenipotentiaries in the district, who can pass any kind of order, the jurisdiction whereof may lie with another district-level officer or a judge.”The present DM’s order dated Aug 29, 2025, handed over the management of the traditional fair to the gram sabha and assigned its revenues to it through a three-member committee of revenue officials. Subsequently, it was challenged before the high court.The order was passed when IAS officer Jasjeet Kaur was serving as the DM of Bijnor. She was transferred the following month and replaced by IAS officer Umesh Pratap Singh, who is now the district’s DM.Challenging the order, the committee of management of Sarvajanik Arya Inter College and another petitioner moved the high court by filing the present writ petition.After hearing both sides, the high court noted that the petitioners had earlier instituted a civil suit against the gram sabha and certain rival parties who disputed their right to hold the traditional fair.The suit, which sought an injunction against interference with the petitioners’ right to organise the fair on plots nos. 981 and 997, was decreed in their favour by the second additional civil judge (senior division), Bijnor, on Dec 2, 1997, in an original suit filed in 1982.The HC observed that the DM’s order runs contrary to the decree of the civil court in favour of the petitioners and against the gram sabha, among others.In its order dated Oct 27, the HC admitted the writ petition and granted two weeks to the state respondents to file their counter-affidavit. Nov 17 was fixed as the next date of hearing.