Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 8: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Prof S K Bhalla highlighting alleged hushing up of Chatta Sunjwan land scam, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today directed SDM Jammu (South) to submit inquiry report by or before February 23 with regard to alienation of land measuring 724 kanals in village Sunjwan to M/s SRK Associates allegedly in contravention of the ceiling limit prescribed under J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, Big Landed Estates Abolition Act and other land laws/rules governing the field or appear in person.
When the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocate Rahul Raina appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of the Division Bench to the order dated November 3, 2015 when AAG Ehsan Mirza appearing for Revenue Department had sought four weeks time to submit the inquiry report being conducted by SDM, Jammu South.
Advocate Ahmed further submitted that in the Govt Order No.151-Rev (S) of 2015 dated October 7, 2015 the Revenue Department had stipulated 15 days time for completion of the probe. More than four months have elapsed but the enquiry officer has not finalized the inquiry, he added.
He further submitted that despite repeated opportunities the Housing and Urban Development Department has not filed its response to the Miscellaneous Petition No.4/2015 seeking action against all those officers/officials of JDA who failed to take action against M/s SRK Associates on the directions of the Administrative Department issued vide No.U&D/15/2008/JDA/AS-32 dated February, 5, 2008 whereby the then VC JDA had been directed to re-visit/put on hold the building permission granted in favour of M/s SRK Associates.
Advocate Ahmed further submitted that the Housing and Urban Development Department is shielding the officers of the JDA who had failed to take action against the colonizer.
On the other hand, Senior Advocate L K Sharma appearing for M/s SRK Associates vociferously sought the dismissal of the instant PIL as he strenuously argued that the PIL has been filed with ulterior motives and the PIL has already achieved its purpose but the petitioner is filing application after application to expand the scope of the PIL.
He further submitted that the main PIL along with other connected matters may be heard today only and he will satisfy the Division Bench that there is nothing in this PIL.
At this stage, Deputy Advocate General Sheikh Faraz Iqbal appearing vice AAG Ehsan Mirza for Revenue Department submitted that he has the instructions to seek two weeks time from the Division Bench so that the requisite inquiry report is placed before the Court. Government Advocate Ahtsham Butt appearing for GAD also supported the submissions made by Deputy AG Sheikh Faraz Iqbal.
After considering the submissions of both the sides, DB directed the SDM, Jammu South to file the inquiry report by or before February, 23, 2016 failing which he was directed to appear in person.
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