Illegal constructions at Patnitop
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 22: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding illegal constructions at Patnitop, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice M A Chowdhary today directed Senior AAG Monika Kohli to file status reports in respect of the remaining cases where charge sheets are yet to be filed.
It is worthwhile to mention here that CBI had filed six charge sheets in connection with alleged grabbing of forest and agricultural land by hotels and guest houses in collusion with former CEOs of Patnitop Development Authority (PDA).
On December 31, 2019, Division Bench had directed Director Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct in-depth enquiry into encroachment on forest land and other public land; illegal change of use and misuse of the land in violation of the permitted user; raising of illegal constructions; failure of the authorities to take action; fix the responsibility of the persons who were at the helm of affairs, were duty bound to and responsible for their taking action; their failure to proceed in accordance with law on issues regarding several aspects relating to the illegal constructions compounding and misuse thereof and; any other illegality.