PIL regarding development of cattle pond
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 22: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajesh Sekri, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding development of cattle pond, has directed the Advocate General to convene meeting with Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Commissioner Secretary Forest Department, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation and Deputy Commissioner Jammu in order to resolve the issues the one with regard to land measuring 55 Kanals owned by the Forest Department.
The DB has further asked the Advocate General to apprise the court about the outcome of the meeting by filing a report in this regard by or before the next date of hearing.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, DB, after hearing Advocate SS Ahmed appearing for the PIL, observed, “complying with the direction dated 18.03.2021 passed by this court, the Jammu Municipal Corporation has filed status report dated 22.11.2021”, adding “it has been mentioned in the report that initially JMC was allotted 97 Kanal and 11 Marlas of land in Khasra No.35 situated at Village Seri Khurd, Tehsil Nagrota for the construction of Modern Cattle Pound/Gaushalla for shifting of animals from unregistered dairies within JMC limits”.
“To secure this land, boundary wall by way of providing chain link fencing equipped with concertina coil and barbed wire up to a length of nearly 2700 feet has been constructed. But, as per the decision taken in the meeting held on 29-02-2020, the possession and ownership of 55 Kanals out of the 97 Kanals and 11 Marlas land allotted to JMC shall remain with the Forest Department”, the DB said, adding “as per the decision, the Forest Department shall establish a fodder bank in the land through Agrostology wing to cater the fodder requirement of the cattle to be maintained in the cattle pound being established by the JMC”.
DB observed that the land measuring 97 Kanals and 11 Marias has been earmarked by the Revenue Department for the construction of Gaushalla. However, the Revenue Department has not been arrayed as party respondent by the petitioner. “Therefore, we deem it appropriate to array Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Revenue Department as party respondent”, the DB added.
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