DB seeks latest status report on encroachment of forest land

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 2: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by inhabitants of village Hari seeking direction to the respondents to initiate eviction proceedings against those who have encroached kanals of forest land falling in Compartment 51-A at village Hari in Surankote tehsil, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta has directed Senior AAG S S Nanda to file latest status report regarding 40 people who are stated to be in possession of more than 100 kanals of land.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, DB observed, “status report dated 26.02.2024 has been filed by the respondents contending therein that the Range Officer Surankote vide communication dated 11.01.2024 has reported that out of 115 encroachers, 39 numbers of claims of community rights of the claimants have been settled by the District Level Committee under FRA and 35 numbers of claims are pending with Sub Divisional Level Committee, Surankote”.
DB directed Senior AAG S S Nanda to file action taken report with regard to 35 numbers of claims pending with Sub Divisional Level Committee, Surankote and 41 numbers of claims pending with Gram Sabha Level, by or before the next date of hearing.