Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 23: High Court today impleaded Chief Executive Officer of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) as a party respondent in the much publicized writ petition seeking demolition /removal of encroachments allegedly made by Raman Bhalla, former Revenue Minister and others on the nallah at Satyam Resorts near Marble Market.
When this petition came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed drew the attention of the court to the status report and reply filed by JMC and UEED. He submitted that both UEED and JMC have suppressed vital facts and have tried to shield the former Revenue Minister by falsely contending that no encroachment has been made.
He further submitted that both JMC and UEED have shifted the buck to ERA by stating that the nallah in question has been taken over by ERA and if any action is warranted the same has to be taken by the ERA only.
Advocate Ahmed vociferously argued that both the reply and status report filed by UEED and JMC is ‘operation cover up’ and a commission be appointed to go on spot to report the encroachment of nallah at the entrance of former Revenue Minister. “The former Minister has installed a security picket for his sentries and is also using the encroached nallah for parking purposes”, he said, adding “entrance of Raman Bhalla’s house as approved by JMC is from different side but in order to create alternate entrance towards Satyam, the nallah was encroached in broad day light and the authorities are hell bent to shield the misdeeds of former Minister”.
On the other hand, Advocate S M Choudhary appearing for Raman Bhalla submitted that in view of the stand taken by JMC and UEED the present petition has been rendered infructous and is liable to be dismissed. He further submitted that petitioner has been obtaining ex-parte orders and since there is no encroachment made by Raman Bhalla the present petition should be dismissed. Senior AAG S S Nanda appearing for JMC and UEED also buttressed the submissions made by Advocate S M Choudhary.
At this stage, Advocate Ahmed submitted that the encroachment of Nallah at Satyam Resorts by the former Revenue Minister and other influential persons was not a hidden fact and it will result in miscarriage of justice in case the reply/status report of JMC/UEED is believed as both these agencies are hell bent to shield/protect the encroachment made by former Revenue Minister.
After hearing heated arguments from both the sides, Justice Tashi Rabstan, in the open court, impleaded Chief Executive Officer, Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) as a party respondent and directed him to file the status report with regard to alleged encroachment as highlighted in the petition within one week.
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