Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 30: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation against alleged land grabbing by the politicians, police officers and bureaucrats in connivance with the land mafia, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today granted four weeks time to Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department to divulge names of illegal occupants of 20 lakh kanal State land.
When the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner Professor SK Bhalla drew the attention of the Court towards the last order dated September 4, 2013 whereby State was directed to divulge the names of the illegal occupants of the State land for taking a view for further course of action.
“The report has not been submitted by the Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department till date”, he said.
However, AAG HA Siddiqui appearing for the Revenue Department stated that he has already taken up the matter with the Commissioner Secretary of the department. He sought another four weeks time to furnish all details with the assurance that he would not ask for any further adjournment at least on this count. Upon this, Division Bench allowed four weeks time as prayed by AAG HA Siddiqui.
In the meanwhile, PIL took a new turn when one Ram Krishan, a resident of Bhagwana Chack, filed an application for intervening in the petition on the ground that he has brought illegal/ unauthorized occupation of 189 kanal and 01 marla of State/ common land bearing Khasra No.1020/471,719,671,670,561,564,666, 665; 7 kanal and 5 marla bearing Khasra No. 25 (Shamshan Ghat); 36 kanal 8 marla bearing Khasra No. 244 (Mafide-aam) and 8 kanal 11 marla bearing Khasra No. 381 (Pond/Talai), situated at village Bhagwana Chack, tehsil Hiranagar to the notice of Deputy Commissioner Kathua and Tehsildar Hiranagar but no action has been taken against the powerful encroachers.
“Despite lapse of one year encroachments in question have not been removed as the encroachers are musclemen and resourceful person. They are being shielded by the politicians and revenue officials”, the applicant said.
Advocate Surjeet Singh Andotra appearing for the applicant sought his impleadment. After considering his submissions, Division Bench issued notice on this application to the State, which was accepted by AAG HA Siddiqui.
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