Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 18 : High Court today again directed the Government of J&K and the Estates Department to submit the details of properties and official accommodations which are under illegal occupation and take steps for eviction of the illegal occupants.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta in a sumoto cognizance with regard to illegal occupation of Government accommodations by erstwhile allottees including ex-ministers, ex-legislators, bureaucrats in J&K, directed the Chief Secretary of UT and the Secretary to Estates Department to comply the directions and file action taken report within ten days period.
Court said the authorities shall take steps for eviction of the illegal occupants in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court in its ruling has directed that no former Chief Minister to occupy any Government Bungalow or any Government accommodation after 15 days from the date on which his term comes to an end.
It is noted that the authorities are already direction to ensure that all charges are recovered from the illegal occupants including damages for illegal use and occupation including electricity and water charges in case it has been illegally occupied by the erstwhile allottees.
“In so far as this aspect of illegal retention and occupation of Government accommodation by the erstwhile allottees in the J&K UT in contravention of the directions of Supreme Court are concerned the Registry to register it as separate as public interest”, DB had directed.
It may be noted that the writ court is also seized of the mater pertaining to Government accommodation and Principal Secretary of Estates Department in his report submitted that large number of persons including Former Ministers, MLAs, Retired IAS Officers, MLCs and politicians are still unauthorizedly residing in Ministerial Bungalows in different categories of accommodations of the Estates Department in both provinces of Jammu as well as Srinagar.
Writ court has also directed for eviction of such occupants who are illegally occupying the Government accommodations and directed for submitting of an affidavit as regards to the directions passed by the court qua eviction of such persons.
Report also reveals that huge amount which is in lakhs of rupees is outstanding on account of rent against these categories of authorized and authorized occupants and no steps so far have been taken by the Department either to vacate the said persons or recover the outstanding amount from them despite court directions from time to time.
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