Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 19: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the Deputy Commissioners’ across the State to file action taken report against those who have converted agriculture land into residential and commercial purposes.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Hasnain Masoodi and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray today directed the Deputy Commissioners across the State to file fresh status report including those who have yet to file their compliance report by next date of hearing.
“The Status report should indicate as to what action has been taken in terms of law for removal or demolition of constructions raised in violation of law”, the court directed.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has also been directed to file fresh status report on change of agriculture land use illegally.
The Bench passed these directions on a Public Interest Litigation titled Human Watch International versus State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Human Watch International had filed the PIL seeking directions regarding the agriculture land conversion into residential housing colonies in violation of law including J&K Land Revenue Act, J&K agrarian Reforms Act and other Land Laws.
The Deputy Advocate General, Nissar Hussain Shah, representing Revenue Department during the course of arguments stated before the court that compliance reports from all the DCs except DC Poonch, Samba, Rajouri, Srinagar and Kupwara have been received.
The court on the perusal of various status reports filed by DCs observed that their status reports and compliance reports have indicated the details of unauthorized conversion of agriculture land in their respective districts. “However, reports don’t indicate the action taken in terms of law for removal or demolition of constructions raised in violation of law”, the court observed.
The court has also directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to ensure that the flood spill channel Rawalpora to Peer Bagh in Srinagar is repaired and widened so that it drains out the flood water from the area.
Earlier, last year, the High Court directed the Deputy Commissioners to stop conversion of agricultural land into residential colonies in their districts and asked them to explore possibility of accommodating the increasing population on modern lines.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel