Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today sought personal appearance of 5 Deputy Commissioners of the State before court on next date of hearing in case they fail to file their affidavits with regard to illegal construction on agricultural land in their districts within two weeks.
Division Bench of the court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey after the request of Advocate General M I Qadri granted two weeks time to DC Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Kathua and Kishtwar to file their affidavits as directed by the court earlier.
“At the request of Advocate General they are asked to file affidavits within two weeks. In default, concerned Deputy Commissioners to appear in person before the court on next date of hearing,” directed the Bench.
Advocate General submitted before the Bench that some DCs have been transferred and new officers have joined at the respective places recently as such some more time be granted to them for filing their affidavits.
In another direction to the State respondents after amicus curie appointed by the court to the PIL advocate Jehangir Iqbal pointed out before the court that despite court orders and land laws illegal construction are going on, in agricultural land and further no response till date has been filed to the earlier orders of court, where in court had observed that the Government in view of population explosion in Srinagar City, shall explore possibility of bringing out some plans accommodate the increasing demand of residential place and “such plans be placed before the court.
Court further observed that the limited land area available within the jurisdiction of SDA as allocated in Master Plan for residential zone has already been consumed. A new town should be sufficient to accommodate the demand which has been repeatedly raised. Such demand sustains find expression in the legal activities of the nature indicated in instant PIL.
On earlier hearing of PIL, State counsel in unequivocal terms had stated that no construction activities were in progress and he further had assured the court that in no other area of the city of Srinagar.
“Observation made in order dated December 12, 2012 and January 1, 2013 has not evoked any response till date from the respondent State,” said the Bench. “In light of observation made in the aforesaid court orders Commissioner Secretaries, Revenue Department and Housing and Urban Development Department to file affidavits before next date,” Bench directed.
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