* Patwari remained posted in same belt for over 10 yrs
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 12: The heads have started rolling in the encroachment of huge chunk of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) land at Gole Gujral with Regional Director Land Records-cum-Settlement Officer attaching Patwari of Gole area pending enquiry against him and seizing the revenue record for verification. On the other hand, Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora issued directions to those at the helm of affairs in the JDA to take stringent action against the land grabbers without any fear.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Regional Director Land Records-cum-Settlement Officer, R K Shavan today ordered attachment of Patwari concerned Jagdish Sharma with the office of Tehsildar Settlement pending enquiry against him. On his directions, the revenue record was also taken from Patwari and handed over to Assistant Settlement Officer in the office of Regional Director Land Records for verification.
“The verification of the record has immediately been started and will be completed within next fortnight following which complete picture will emerge vis-à-vis encroachment of JDA and Revenue Training Institute land and the officer(s) involved in the same”, they said.
According to the sources, Patwari Jagdish Sharma has remained posted in the Gole-I, Gole-II, Talab Tillo and adjoining areas during the past more than 10 years and about six months back he was transferred from Gole-II to Gole-I. “It is astonishing as to how one particular Patwari can remain posted in a particular belt that too for more than a decade”, sources asked, adding “besides verification of the revenue record pertaining to Khasra No.746-min it is also required to be looked into as to whose patronage the Patwari was enjoying in order to remain posted in a particular belt”.
Meanwhile, Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora today directed the officers and field staff of the JDA to take stringent action against the land grabbers without any fear.
All encroachments on State land including encroachment in Gole Gujral should be removed without any fear and favour, said Mr Jora, who called a joint meeting of the officers of JDA and Revenue Department. “Being custodian of the State land it is obligatory on the part of JDA to launch a vigorous anti-encroachment drive and district administration should provide all support for this purpose”, he added.
Mr Jora made it clear that political interference will not be allowed to come in the way of anti-encroachment drive and directed the officers to take appropriate action without any fear and favour. “To check the menace of land encroachment there is a dire need of synergy between citizens and the administration”, he further said.
Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Satish Nehru, Vice Chairman JDA, Kuldeep Khajuria, Tehsildar, Jammu, Ravinder Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Sher Singh and concerned officers of Urban Development and Revenue Departments were present in the meeting.
When contacted, District Magistrate Ajeet Kumar Sahu said, “we are ready to provide whatever assistance JDA requires for taking action against the encroachers”, adding “even police has already been directed to extend every possible help to JDA wherever anti-encroachment drive is launched”.
According to the legal experts, imposition of Section 144 in Gole Gujral area as demanded by the Vice-Chairman of JDA is no solution to check the encroachment. “This section is basically imposed in the areas where there is a fear of breach of peace”, they said, adding “as far as Gole Gujral area is concerned, the situation demands removal of encroachment first and then imposition of Section 144”.
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