Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the State functionaries to stop any kind of encroachment on forest land in Ramnagar Wild Life Sanctuary or any other area of River Tawi, Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today directed the Forest Department to file status report.
In the PIL, prayer has been made for issuance of direction to Municipal Corporation to stop operation of mixers and vibrators for construction of tiles and drainage channels adjoining Manda Deer Park and conversion of area into green park. The other directions sought against the Municipal Corporation include stopping converting parks, gardens, green fields or ponds in Jammu city into a Pacca structures including Lala Hans Raj Park opposite Gurdawara Sunder Singh.
After hearing Advocate Ajay Abrol, DB observed, “earlier this Court had directed for developing forest on both sides of Tawi River for saving the forest land from encroachment. However, no response has been filed by the State even in respect of another prayer that respondents be directed to stop any kind of encroachment on the forest land in Ramnagar Wild Life Sanctuary or any other area”.
“Advocate General MI Qadiri has brought to our notice that the issue with regard to encroachment of forest land is pending consideration in another case titled Harbhajan Singh Versus State & Others, which is posted for hearing on April 3, 2014. The present petition be also listed along with the said petition on the same date”, the DB said.
“In the meanwhile, status report with regard to forest land as indicated in previous order may be filed by the Forest Department”, the DB directed.
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