Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 1: The High Court today directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to ensure that no agricultural land is converted into non-agricultural purposes by any mode situated at Ranbir Garh Pratap Garh Srinagar.
The HC was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by one Tasaduq Hussain submitting therein that some vested interests are converting a big chunk of agricultural land in the area into non-agricultural purposes by earth filling.
The division bench after hearing the petitioner counsel issued notice to all concerned and meanwhile directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to ensure that no such activity is undertaken on spot and also directed the concerned police authorities to associate the Divisional Commissioner while taking actions.
The Court issued notice to Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner SMC and other six persons who were allegedly converting the agriculture land. Petitioner besides other reliefs sought that Commissioner SMC be directed not to issue any building permission for establishing the residential colony by these private persons over the said chunk of land. “In case any building permission stand issued the same may be kept on hold forthwith”, petitioner prayed.
The Counsel appearing for revenue department submitted that there are already directions from this Court about such issue and in that event any persons can approach the Divisional Commissioner and can inform him.
To these submissions, petitioner counsel informed the court that they are well aware about the directions passed by the court and the petitioner in tune with directions had approached the said authority but no results which compelled him to approach the court again.
As the practice (conversion of agriculture land) is unabated in the State, High Court has already way back in the year 2016 directed the Government to appoint Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir as well as Jammu division for implementing the provision of land laws including Supreme Court directions as also the directions passed from High Court in order to save the agriculture land in the State.
The authorities are under directions implement the relevant laws and also evolve mechanism for protection and preservation of the retrieved land.
It may be mentioned that Supreme Court for saving the agriculture land and wetlands in a judgment ‘Jagpal Singh Vs State of Punjab” has directed all the State Governments in the country that they should prepare schemes for eviction of illegal/unauthorized occupants of Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat/Poramboke/Shamlat land and these must be restored
to the Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat for the common use of villagers.
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