State High Court has issued stern warning to the Deputy Commissioners that they should ensure that illegal encroachment of Kahcharie lands is vacated within a given time failing which law will take its course. It is regrettable that despite earlier warnings Deputy Commissioners have not taken any action against those who have grabbed the Kahcharie lands illegally. The ground reality is that some influential but unscrupulous political activists of almost all mainstream political parties have illegally grabbed lands and retained possession because they have strong political clout. The Deputy Commissioners and other revenue officials can become helpless in the face of political pressures brought on them. It is this situation that the High Court has taken into consideration. The objective is to dismantle this unwanted structure that takes administration a hostage. The High Court wants the Deputy Commissioners to act in accordance with the law and the ground facts. They have now the mandate from the court and can proceed with dismantling illegal encroachment. The court has ordered constituting of two-member committee that will monitor the implementation of its orders to the Deputy Commissioners in regard to removal of encroachments from kahcharie. Taking the issue seriously, the Court has ordered the DCs to submit reports on what action they have taken and what are the results in the matter of removing illegal encroachments.
Examining the progress in regard to the Master Plan for the city of Srinagar, the Court has sought copy of the revised Master Plan from the Srinagar Development Authority which has approved extension of area for Srinagar City from 416 Sq Km to 757 Sq Km in the said Master Plan. What concerns the court are the reports that within this extended area, people have been raising unauthorised structures that are not approved by the Srinagar Development Authority. The court would wants to know the action taken against such irregularities.
The fact of the matter is that there is lot of political interference in land revenue matters against which there are many public complaints. There is a nexus between various agencies all purporting to grab as much of state land as they can and wherever they can. Unless there is stringent action against them, this malaise is not going to be cured. The mafia is entrenched and since the court has been approached, it is bound to perform its duty in accordance with the law. We welcome the initiative and seriousness of the court in this particular matter and hope that this irregularity will be checked.
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