DPs demand action against Marheen Tehsil office staff

Centurian Shiv Ram flanked by other DPs addressing press conference in Jammu.
Centurian Shiv Ram flanked by other DPs addressing press conference in Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 23: Alleging blatant violation of provisions of Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 in Tehsil Marheen of district Kathua, the Displaced Persons (DPs) have demanded action against the staff at the Tehsil office.
Addressing press conference here today Shiv Ram, a centurian of 104 years Displaced Person of 1947 from PoK presently from district Kathua, along with others DPs, has demanded suspension of Tehsildar Marheen and other officials for brazen violation of provisions of Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 and also open disobedience of orders/directions passed by his senior officers with respect to the allotted land of DPs of said Tehsil. He also demanded constitution of a committee to probe unfair activities in this office.
While narrating the tale of injustice done to him, Shiv Ram said that he is a DP and the Govt of erstwhile J&K allotted him land in two different villages Chak Ganga Ram and Ballan Bala of tehsil Hiranagar now Marheen. He is personally cultivating the land at village Chak Ganga Ram and as he was unable to manage cultivation at the second place so he managed it through a local man on labour.
He said that DPs from POK have been conferred Occupancy Tenancy Rights under Section 3-A of Agrarian Reform Act. The Govt has provided concession to DPs having allotment in more than one village to manage cultivation. DPs having allotment in more than one village were exempted from personal cultivation over the second place. Ram said that he applied to Tehsildhar Marheen on July 8, 2020 to attest mutation of allotted land in his favour at Ballan Bala, but Tehsildhar deliberately delayed the attestation for eight long months on superfluous grounds. Then he approached SDM Hiranagar and even DC Kathua. Despite clear instructions after examining the case by two senior officers Tehsildar was violating the Act and refusing the mutation.
Shiv Ram appealed to Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha to direct the District Administration to constitute a committee to probe the unfair activities of in Tehsil office Marheen and take stern action in this regard.