*Latest order on Gole land creates peculiar situation
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 2: Contrary to the repeated directions from the State High Court on tightening noose around the land mafia to prevent further encroachment of State land, over 11000 kanals of Jammu Development Authority land is being sold illegally by unscrupulous elements in two different parts of Jammu without any fear of law.
Moreover, peculiar situation has emerged in Gole area of Jammu following issuance of latest order by the district administration directing that eight families should be allowed to continue their possession on the land, which was retrieved by the Jammu Development Authority that too on the directions of Division Bench of State High Court.
According to the information available with EXCELSIOR, 2894 kanals and 13 marlas of State land in village Rakh Raipur (Belicharana) was transferred to the Jammu Development Authority several years back by the Revenue Department for development of housing colony to meet the housing needs of people of different income groups.
Out of this, 81 kanals of land falling under 19 different Khasra Numbers was transferred to JDA from Nazool and 2813 kanals of land under 15 different Khasra Numbers was transferred from Roshni. However, district revenue authorities did not pay any attention towards the demarcation of the transferred land despite the fact that the same was imperative to keep check on the activities of unscrupulous elements.
In the absence of demarcation on ground, unscrupulous elements continued to encroach upon the land and Jammu Development Authority could not prevent the same for being unaware of boundaries of the land transferred to it, sources said. The situation has presently assumed alarming proportion as till date the demarcation exercise has not been conducted by the Jammu district revenue authorities despite the fact that repeated communications were sent to them with the request to handover the land to JDA by properly demarcating the same.
The haplessness of the JDA can be gauged from the fact that it was left with no other option but to get a notice published in the newspapers warning unscrupulous elements against selling JDA land in village Rakh Raipur.
“It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous elements are selling JDA land in village Rakh Raipur by cheating people by giving false documents in the form of affidavits”, the notice said. Through this notice, the JDA has not only advised the people to verify the title of land but has also made it clear that persons found involved in violation of such sale/purchase will be dealt strictly in accordance with the law.
Similarly, 8279 kanals of land, which was acquired for Satellite Township in village Sidhra, Majeen, Rangoora and Dwara and stands in the name of Jammu Development Authority in the revenue records, is either in the possession of persons having political backing or being sold by some unscrupulous elements by giving false documents in the form of affidavits.
“This is because final awards have not been issued by the district revenue authorities”, sources said, adding “three draft awards vis-à-vis Majeen Part-I, Majeen Part-II and Rangora Part-I were submitted to the concerned revenue authorities several years back but the same have not been approved till date and the benefit of the same is being obtained by mafia by way of selling the land”.
They said that keeping in view the magnitude of problem, the unstinted support and backing of State Government on the whole issue is needed so that Satellite Township project, which was approved several decades back is realized.
All what the JDA has been doing in the absence of final awards is issuing notice cautioning unscrupulous elements against selling this land and making general public aware of the status of the land, sources said.
Meanwhile, latest order of the Deputy Commissioner Jammu on claim of eight families on land from which they were evicted by the JDA on the directions of High Court has created peculiar situation.
“These eight families should be allowed to continue their possession on the impugned portion of land and ongoing demarcation report should include their names as owner in possession of respective portion of land”, said the order, adding “this area be excluded from the land possessed by the JDA in records as well as on the spot”.
By way of the order, the Deputy Commissioner has directed the Tehsildar Settlement to restore possession of the claimants as it was prior to the eviction drive. He has also directed the JDA not to interfere with the possession of land of these families.
According to the reports, under the garb of this order some more persons, who too were evicted by the JDA on the directions of High Court have started staking claims despite the fact that land retrieved by the JDA was recently allotted by way inviting applications from different categories of people and conducting draw of lots.
Questioning the sanctity of the order, sources said, “it has not been mentioned in the order as to under which Act the restoration of land has been directed”, adding “moreover, the order is in complete contravention of the directions of the Division Bench”.
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