* Seeks latest status of huge land before Dec 4
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 15: Expressing concern over inordinate delay in demarcation of over 66,000 kanals of State and Nazool land transferred to Jammu Development Authority, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan has observed that Revenue Department has entered into superficial correspondence with the JDA.
It has directed both the Revenue Department and JDA to file the latest status report especially in the light of the decisions taken in the meeting convened by the Divisional Commissioner on May 17, 2014.
The issue of demarcation of over 66,000 kanals of State and Nazool land transferred to JDA Vide different Government orders including Government Order No. Rev (NDJ) 46 of 1973 dated January 28, 1973, was exclusively highlighted by EXCELSIOR in its edition dated April 13, 2014 following which a Public Interest Litigation came to be filed in the State High Court seeking direction for prompt demarcation.
On the directions of the Division Bench of High Court, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu convened a meeting of Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba, Vice-Chairperson of JDA and other concerned officers on May 17 and thoroughly deliberated upon the issue of demarcation of such a huge land transferred to JDA.
Accordingly, several decisions were taken for action by the JDA as well as Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba and thereafter even minutes of meeting were circulated to all the concerned for compliance. The Divisional Commissioner through a status report also conveyed this to the State High Court on May 20 while complying to its directions.
When the PIL came up for hearing before the Division Bench on November 12, Advocate Adarsh Sharma, counsel for the JDA submitted that the primary responsibility for transferring the land after demarcation is cast on the Revenue Department. “The seeking of record/details of over 66000 kanals of land by the Revenue Department from JDA has no justification as the department authorities are supposed to have the copies”, he said in the open court.
“JDA has not only submitted details of land transferred to it prior to the convening of meeting by the Divisional Commissioner but even invoked Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) for time bound demarcation”, Advocate Adarsh Sharma further submitted, adding “even the decision taken in the meeting chaired by the Divisional Commissioner was complied with by sending letters to the Revenue Department mentioning the Khasra Nos involved for demarcation of the transferred land”.
After hearing Advocates Adarsh Sharma and Sindhu Sharma for the JDA, Advocate S S Ahmed for the PIL and Additional Advocate General, H A Siddiqui for the Revenue Department, the DB observed, “the Revenue Department on its part has entered into superficial correspondence with the JDA asking them to furnish copies of the Government Order, which they are suppose to have”.
“The status report was filed on May 20, 2014 by the Revenue Department with regard to demarcation but what progress has been made thereafter is not known”, the DB said, adding “in view of this, we direct the Revenue Department as well as Jammu Development Authority to file the latest status with regard to demarcation of the balance land of 66,436 kanals and one marla before December 4, 2014”.
The land which is required to be demarcated falls in areas including Bhalwal, Gole, Ghou Manhasan, Muthi, Rakh Bahu, Sunjwan, Chak Rattan, Deeli, Thanger, Rakh Raipur, Nagrota, Narian, Jagti, Kamini, Nadore, Kour Jagir, Khanpur, Chak Rakhwale, Ralore Dhoke, Bain Bajalta, Majeen, Sidhra, Pargalta, Kupad, Malhore Jagir, Gurah Slathia and Meen Charakan etc.
Follow our WhatsApp channel