*Expresses concern over infighting between JDA, Revenue, Police
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting land grabbing and encroachment, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice B S Walia today expressed displeasure over the infighting between Jammu Development Authority, Revenue and Police Departments over demarcation of more than 66000 kanals of JDA land in Jammu and Samba districts. The DB directed videography of entire exercise and sought updated status reports about the ongoing demarcation within three weeks.
When the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the PIL submitted, “land mafia is causing obstruction in the ongoing demarcation drive and there is every apprehension of law and order problem”. Advocate Ahmed specifically invited the attention of the Division Bench towards order dated December 10, 2014 passed by a Division Bench of the State High Court headed by the then Chief Justice M M Kumar whereby videography of the entire demarcation exercise of JDA land in Jammu and Samba districts was directed.
“The demarcation so far carried out has not been videographed and in view of the resistance offered by the land mafia the directions are required to be issued to comply the order dated December 10, 2014 so that the left over demarcation exercise is videographed”, he further submitted, adding “videography will help in identification of the land mafia and will also help in finding out and ascertaining the role of delinquent officers/ officials associated with the demarcation process”.
Advocate Adarsh Sharma appearing for JDA produced the fresh status report in the open court wherein it was divulged that the JDA took up the matter with the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba and also communicated the details of the Khasra Numbers wherein the revenue record was awaited despite identification/demarcation of JDA land.
“JDA issued the demarcation schedule and requested for the requirement of revenue staff. Though the revenue staff reported for the demarcation but the schedule was not strictly adhered resulting into very slow progress”, reads the status report.
Advocate Adarsh Sharma also informed the DB that IGP Jammu was requested for providing police protection on permanent basis in terms of the direction passed by the DB on August 4, 2017. However, the IGP expressed his inability to provide police on the permanent basis owing to the shortage of manpower and multifarious duties.
He further submitted that since revenue staff and the territorial police generally remain occupied with the multifarious duties, the dedicated staff was required by the JDA to accomplish the exercise of identification, demarcation and retrieval of thousands of kanal of land from the encroachers in time bound manner to implement the High Court orders.
On being confronted with the status report filed by the JDA, Deputy Advocate General Ehsan Mirza appearing for Revenue/Police Departments countered the stance taken by JDA and submitted that Revenue Department has issued clear cut instructions to all the territorial Tehsildars to extend full cooperation to JDA in the ongoing demarcation exercise. He further submitted that the status report of JDA has not pointed out the names of officers/officials of the Revenue Department who remained remiss in the performance of their duties for carrying the directions of the Division Bench.
He further submitted that any lapse on the part of officers/officials will be dealt sternly by the Revenue Department. He assured the Division Bench in the open court that any request of JDA for manpower and for providing revenue records will be adhered to without any further delay.
After considering the rival contentions from both the sides, Division Bench while expressing its displeasure over the divergent stances taken by JDA, Revenue and Police, directed videography of the entire demarcation exercise. The DB also directed Revenue and JDA to file updated status report within three weeks and Deputy AG Ehsan Mirza also undertook to comply the directions of the Division Bench in its letter and spirit.
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