Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 14: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding eviction of 127 encroachers from the forest land in Poonch, Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal has directed the Deputy Commissioner Poonch to forthwith call a joint meeting of DFO and SSP to finalize action plan setting out dates and timings of the eviction process.
The DB further directed Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to ensure that all funds which are required for undertaking the removal of the encroachment in the forest area are provided to the DFO Poonch immediately.
“The DFO Poonch as well as the SSP Poonch shall place before this court the minutes of the meeting and the action plan for removal of the encroachments within one week”, the added.
Earlier, the DB observed, “a status report has been filed by AAG Aseem Sawhney on behalf of the Police Department in the Registry on 10th February, 2020 mentioning that SSP Poonch has assured that every assistance would be given to the Forest Department to carry out the eviction drive”.
During the course of hearing, Mohan Choudhary, DFO Poonch informed the Division Bench that the difficulties being faced in removal of the encroachment have been taken up with the Principal Chief Conservative of Forests by way of a communication dated 3rd February, 2020, disclosing therein the reason that the encroached area is under the cover of snow as such eviction could not be conducted immediately.
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