Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 15: High Court has directed the Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department to ensure that the members appointed in the Special Tribunal are beyond the shadow of any doubt regarding their honesty and integrity.
This significant direction has been passed by Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in a petition filed by Chairman Lakes and Waterways Development Authority challenging the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal arising out of the appeal filed by the respondents against the demolition notice bearing No. LDA/EO/2B/11/2117-19 dated 21.12.2018, in terms whereof the Member of the Tribunal has disposed of the appeal with a direction to the respondents to put forth their views before the concerned authorities of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority in the form of representation, who may re-examine the issue and take appropriate action in the matter strictly in accordance with law/regulations.
While staying the order of Special Tribunal, Justice Magrey directed that the Authority shall ensure sealing of the construction immediately and if they notice any resistance, they shall seek assistance of SSP Srinagar, who shall ensure availability of sufficient number of police personnel for ensuring implementation of the order.
Justice Magrey further directed Principal Secretary to Government Housing and Urban Development Department to submit the list of permissions granted in the whole city of Srinagar from the Authority headed by Commissioner Secretary to Srinagar Municipal Corporation as also the Chairman Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, initially for the last six months with the report of the concerned authorities about the adherence of the conditions of permission or its violation.
“Principal Secretary shall also order an enquiry into the subject of the permission so as to ascertain as to how the respondents have raised the construction by major violation of the permission. If on preliminary enquiry, the erring officers/officials are found prima facie involved, further action shall be taken against them in terms of rules and law”, High Court said.
High Court further directed that the Commissioner Secretary to Government, General Administration Department in consultation with the Law Department shall ensure that the members appointed in the Tribunal are beyond the shadow of any doubt regarding their honesty and integrity.
High Court further observed, “prima facie Tribunal has not only erred in law, but has also contributed in encouraging the violators by asking the Authorities to re-look into the matter. The Tribunal has not appreciated the scheme of the Act and the judgments on the issue, as there is no scope for the Tribunal to pass the directions which are beyond the scope of the law in terms of the scheme of the Act”.
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