Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 25: In the much-publicized Public Interest Litigation on alleged nexus between the land mafia, politicians, bureaucrats and police officers, Additional Advocate General H A Siddiqui today filed list of illegal occupants of State land in Jammu division and one district of Kashmir division.
When the PIL came up for hearing, AAG appearing for the State submitted that list of illegal occupants of State land in Jammu division and one district of Kashmir division has been filed in 11 volumes. He, however, pointed out that many districts of Kashmir division were not furnishing the required information.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed assisted by Advocate Suraj Singh appearing for the PIL whereas AAG Siddiqui for the State, Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi took on record 11 volumes filed in the open Court containing the full details of the illegal occupants of the State land from Jammu division and one district of Kashmir division.
The DB directed that a copy of each of the volume be furnished to the counsel for the petitioner.
Taking serious note of non furnishing of information by other districts of Kashmir division, Division Bench directed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to ensure that before the next date of hearing adequate information is furnished failing which he shall remain present in person.
Division Bench in view of the public interest and urgency fixed the PIL for further hearing on December 23, 2013.
It is pertinent to mention here that Division Bench issued directions for divulging the names of illegal occupants of State land across Jammu and Kashmir after the petitioner Prof S K Bhalla in a CMA referred to a question in Legislative Assembly in response to which the Government had divulged that more than 20 lakh kanal of State land was under illegal occupation.
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