Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 15: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting illegal occupation of Ministerial bungalows, Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal has allowed four weeks time to the Government for filing status report.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL whereas Senior AAG Seema Shekhar appearing for the Government, the Division Bench expressed surprise over the non-filing of the status report despite the lapse of almost three months.
However, on the request of Senior AAG Seema Shekhar the DB granted four weeks more time for filing of the status report. The DB also granted time to the petitioner to file rejoinder before the next date—December 1, 2020.
Earlier, when the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Ahmed vehemently argued that it was on June 19, 2018 when the last coalition Government came to an end and J&K came under Presidential Rule the erstwhile Ministers/Legislators who were occupying Ministerial Bungalows both at Jammu as well as Srinagar were required to vacate the accommodation allotted to them by the Estates Department.
“Government has selectively targeted the ex-Ministers/ex-MLAs as those belonging to the ruling party in the Central Government have not been touched as they are enjoying both official accommodation as well as security/official vehicles”, Advocate Ahmed said, adding “most of the ex-Ministers/ex-MLAs have their private houses in Jammu and Srinagar but are not interested to vacate the Ministerial bungalows/Kothies”.
“Moreover, the officers of the Estates Department are not performing their statutory duties for the obvious reasons and in view of the inaction on their part the indulgence of the court is warranted”, he further submitted.
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