Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 17: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Ravi Abrol seeking upgradation of Jammu Airport, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Sindhu Sharma today issued certain directions to the concerned authorities.
During the course of hearing, it transpired that part of land required for expansion had been acquired by the State. However, on 10 kanals of land there are some houses.
“It is not in dispute that the acquisition of the land has been upheld by this court in OWP No. 726/2007 titled as Residents of Areas around Civil Airport, Satwari, Jammu and Another versus Union of India and Others and the people, who had constructed their houses on the land, are still in possession thereon”, the DB observed, adding “the State came out with an offer to rehabilitate them though they may not have a legal right to enforce the same in court. The area has now been earmarked and rehabilitation site is in village Sunjwan”.
It was submitted by Advocate General D C Raina that out of 29 families living on 10 Kanals of land, 25 families had already taken possession of the plots allotted to them. They have even removed the doors, windows and other fittings from the houses constructed by them. The possession thereof is likely to be handed over to the authorities within a period of one week. Four families had not come forward to take possession of plots.
Out of 32 families, who had constructed their houses on 17 Kanals of the private land, 11 families have accepted the allotment at rehabilitation site and taken the possession of the plots allotted to them. Twenty five families have not yet accepted.
It was further submitted that the plots were allotted to 36 families in the draw of plots held on 04.09.2019 in their presence and the same was videographed. However, the draw of plots for the rest of 25 families was not held as they had not participated in the process.
The representatives of 25 families, who had not yet taken the possession of the plots at rehabilitation site were present in court and they agreed in principle that they will take the possession of the plots being offered to them at the rehabilitation site.
DB directed the representatives of 25 families, who have not yet accepted the allotment, to visit the office of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, South Jammu to participate in the process of draw of plots, which shall be videographed.
DB further observed, “the occupants of the land, which has already been acquired, have raised the issue regarding the provision for electricity, water supply and levelling of some of the areas where plots have been allotted”.
On this, Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma and Sushma Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, who were present in court, submitted that after getting due approval from the Finance Department, the water and electricity supplies shall be provided at the rehabilitation site.
The court appreciated the efforts of administration in resolving the issues.
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