Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 25: A 15- members delegation of Displaced Persons (DPs) of 1947 from PoJK under the banner of Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Comittee (JKSAC) called upon Rajinder Singh Tara, Custodian General UT of J&K.
The delegation expressed its gratitude to UT govt for posting an officer from DP community as Custodian General for the first time. A memorandum was also submitted regarding the issue confronting the DPs particularly pertaining to Custodian Department. Ravinder Sharma Custodian/PRO Jammu was also present on the occasion.
Gurdev Singh, president alongwith Puran Singh Chib and Ajit Singh (Vice president) and others apprised Rajinder Singh Tara that after migration of DPs to the Indian side of J&K in 1947, some residential properties of evacuees were occupied by DPs for shelter in cities/town across the Jammu region. Later on, these residential properties were allotted to DPs by Custodian Deptt on marginal rental basis. With the passage of time most of such properties due to lack of maintenance got dilapidated or partly collapsed. Though the DPs are allowed to repair them to some extent but are not allowed to raise the new structure as per their needs in absence of legal rights. He was urged to recommend to Govt. for granting of occupancy tenancy rights to such DPs families residing in these residential structure on the analogy of Section-3A of the Agrarian Reform Act 1976.
He was also apprised about the plight of hundreds of DPs families whose allotted evacuee land is still under the illegal possession of locals and in certain cases since the date of allotment. Moreover, the allotment was made to DPs in different village at considerable distances which made them incapable to till their lands. He was told that after lot of struggle put forth, the govt. gave certain concessions to DPs under Section I & II of Sub section 2(c) of Section 4 of Agrarian Reform Act 1976. The revenue authorities did not support the DPs whenever they applied for the resumption of their allotted land thus blatantly violated the Agrarian Reform Act.
He was further apprised that as per the latest report of the govt, 15,26,817 kanals of land was vacated by people who left POJK or Pakistan in 1947. Only 15% of this land was allotted DPs of 1947 and as govt. asserts that equal percentage of this evacuee land also allotted to landless, locals and DPs of 1965 and 1971. He said that deficiency be removed.
Tara heard the delegation very patiently and assured to extend all kind of help to DPs within the parameters of law.
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