Estates Deptt files latest compliance report before DB
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking eviction of ex-Ministers, ex-Legislators and political persons from the Ministerial Bungalows and other official accommodations, Estates Department has filed latest compliance report mentioning that former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta has vacated the Government accommodation.
The compliance report has also highlighted that eviction order was issued to J&K BJP President Sat Sharma on 21-11-2024 besides notice for payment of penal rent amounting to Rs 73,470. Further, the accommodation under the occupation of Sat Sharma was sealed on 30-12-2024.
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It is worthwhile to mention here that the Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh had expressed its displeasure and anguish vide its orders dated 07-11-2024 and 12-12-2024 and Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Estate Department was specifically directed to file updated status report with regard to occupants namely Kavinder Gupta, ex-DyCM, Sat Sharma, President of BJP (J&K), Surinder Ambardar, ex-MLC and Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, ex-MLC whose names were mentioned in the status report dated 11-12-2024 filed by the Estates Department.
The Division Bench had categorically directed that in case the updated status report was not filed with regard to these occupants Commissioner/Secretary Estates Department shall remain present on the next date of hearing.
It has been further disclosed in the compliance report that eviction process under Section 4 of J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988 has been initiated against ex-MLCs Zaffar Iqbal Manhas and Surinder Ambardar by issuing them the notices on 28-12-2024.
It has also been revealed that Government accommodation has been vacated by S S Channi (Senior Congress leader) and notice for payment of penal rent amounting to Rs 14,690 was issued to him on 20-12-2024. Further Mohammed Abbas Wani, ex-MLA has also vacated the accommodation and notice for penal rent amounting to Rs 19,586 was issued to him on 12-12-2024.
The status/compliance report has also pointed out that ex-MLA Abdul Rahim Rather has also vacated the Govt accommodation and notice for penal rent amounting to Rs 28,211 up to 20-12-2024 was issued to him. Similarly, ex-MLC Vibodh Gupta has also vacated the accommodation and notice for penal rent amounting to Rs 13,993 up to 20-12-2024 has been issued to him.
Today because of the paucity of time, the PIL could not be considered by the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M A Chowdhary. Moreover, the compliance report filed by the Estates Department had also not been scanned by the Registry and the court directed the Registry to list the instant PIL after ensuing winter vacations on 19-02-2025.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Supriya Chouhan and M Zulkarnain Chowdhary appeared for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG S S Nanda appeared for UT of J&K (Estates Department).
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