Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today issued various directions to different organs of the State Government in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against land grabbing.
When the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Suraj Singh and Rahul Raina appearing for the PIL drew the attention of the Division Bench to the detailed order passed on December, 10, 2014 whereby directions had been issued for time bound demarcation of entire JDA land situated in Jammu and Samba districts.
He further submitted that till date the directions of the Division Bench have not been compiled by the JDA as well as the office of the Deputy Commissioner Jammu. Upon this, the Division Bench directed Deputy Advocate General Parimoksh Seth to ensure compliance of the directions by filing the report by next date of hearing.
Division Bench also took cognizance of the application filed by Kamni Gupta, Geeta Gupta, Archana Gupta, Laxmi Gupta and Romi Gupta, daughters of late Hem Raj and residents of Partap Garh seeking restoration of their possession on the land measuring 342 kanals situated at village Chak Lallo Shah (near fourth bridge, Jammu in Niki Tawi area), which is under illegal occupation of three daughters of former PHE/ Health Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din.
After hearing Advocate S C Gupta appearing for the applicants, the Division Bench allowed the applicants to intervene as prayed.
With regard to another application moved by Advocate Jagpal Singh alleging encroachment of the land of Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the Division Bench asked Senior AAG Seema Shekhar to file response to the application. “It shall be ensured that the land owned by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department is neither encroached nor any construction permitted to be raised thereupon”, the DB directed.
In another application moved by Advocate Rameshwar Singh Jamwal, Division Bench asked Senior AAG Seema Shekhar that respondents had been directed that before any steps for regularization of the illegal constructions on land belonging to JDA are initiated, the scheme so prepared be placed before this court for examination and till it is done, the regularization of illegal constructions on JDA land be stayed.
On the request of Senior AAG Seema Shekhar, the DB granted six weeks’ time for complying with the directions issued on December, 17, 2014.
With regard to the Roshni Scam, the Division Bench observed, “detailed directions had been issued on May 6, 2015 to the State Government to suggest the mechanism with a view to remove the encroachments and restoration of the encroached land to its original status”.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed pointed out that State Government was not serious in removing the encroachments as the land mafia has tentacles in police, bureaucracy and political establishment.
After considering the submissions of Advocate Ahmed, the Division Bench asked Senior AAG to explain why the directions with regard to adoption of mechanism have not been complied with. Upon this, Seema Shekhar undertook to do the needful on or before the next date of hearing by filing the compliance report as per the previous order of the Division Bench.
In yet another application moved by Advocate S S Andotra highlighting encroachment of land in tehsil Hiranagar, Division Bench granted time to Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi to file response to the status report filed by DC Kathua.
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