Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 6: In the Public Interest Litigation seeking eviction of overstaying ex-Ministers/ex-Legislators from the Government accommodation, Advocate General D C Raina assisted by AAG Amit Gupta and Government Advocate Sajad Ashraf today submitted before the Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi that Government of J&K has already taken action in terms of the directions passed on April 3, 2024.
Pursuant thereto two premises have already been vacated by Wazira Begum and Sonaullah Lone (political persons) whereas six more are in the process of being vacated.
Advocate General further submitted that in respect of other premises, the matter is under consideration before the Committee and he sought two months time to do the needful in the matter.
On the other hand, counsels for the PIL submitted that there is no proper compliance of the directions passed by the Division Bench on April 3, 2024 as the Division Bench had issued categoric directions to Director Estates, Jammu and Director Estates, Kashmir to pass individual orders in respect of all 43 occupants and also to explain why these occupants were not charged rental at commercial rates since they are not holding any office as of now.
It was vociferously argued that there cannot be two laws in a similar situation as Government of J&K evicted more than 200 politicians including two former Chief Ministers namely Omar Abdullah & Mehbooba Mufti and several ex-Ministers but undue favour is being extended to remaining 41 politicians who are having access in the corridors of power.
The counsel appearing for the PIL submitted that he is entitled to see the entire records and all the 43 individual orders passed by the Estates Department so that he can assist the Division Bench for passing the appropriate directions in this matter of wide public importance.
At this stage, the Division Bench, in the open court, remarked that the entire records will be perused in order to see the compliance of court directions dated April 3, 2024.
The Division Bench, after considering the heated arguments from both the sides, directed the Registry to re-notify the instant PIL on August 7. The Division Bench further directed the counsel for Estates Department to report instructions in CM No. 4083/2023 moved by former Finance Minister Abdul Raheem Rather who is seeking clarification that he has already vacated the Government accommodation and his name should be removed from the list of occupants.
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