DB directs JMC Commissioner to take possession with police assistance

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta has directed the Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation to ensure that possession of 97 kanals State land identified at Village Sari Khurd, Tehsil Nagrota for establishment of cattle pound is taken over with the assistance of Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu.
The Division Bench further directed that JMC shall take further steps as are deemed necessary to ensure that there is no encroachment from any quarters and the property of cattle pound is fenced or boundary wall erected.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL filed by an NGO (SAVE) through its Chairperson Devinder Kour Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan, whereas Senior AAG S.S. Nanda appearing for the State Government, the Division Bench directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu as well as Commissioner JMC to file an affidavit with regard to the compliance of this order by or before the next date of hearing.
Earlier, when the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the NGO-SAVE submitted that in view of the latest compliance report filed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu there is no impediment whatsoever for the JMC to take over possession of the land for making operational and functional the cattle pound.
He submitted that with the coming up of IIT and IIM at Village Jagti (Nagrota) the land mafia is keeping an eye over the land identified for cattle pound and without police assistance it won’t be possible for the JMC to take over the possession of the land from the Revenue Department.
Advocate Ahmed further submitted that another issue which requires indulgence of the Division Bench is the tagging of stray and other animals. He further submitted that instead of external tags the directions are required to be issued to Municipal Veterinary Officer to go for RIFD internal tags as the same are animal friendly and involves better monitoring of the stray animals.
Senior AAG S.S. Nanda assisted by Municipal Veterinary Officer stated that instead of external tags, internal tags would be better for purposes of monitoring the stray animals and therefore, JMC be permitted to do the same. The DB observed, “ the issue with regard to internal or external tagging is a matter which falls in the domain of JMC and may decide the same accordingly”. However Municipal Veterinary Officer assured the Division Bench that the tagging process shall be completed within a period of one month.

Follow our WhatsApp channel