Ex-Minister approaches court against demolition of building
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 4: High Court has directed maintenance of status-quo with regard to the building housing DPS School owned by former Forest Minister Ch Lal Singh and his family members in village Taraf Tajwal of Kathua district.
After hearing Senior Advocate K S Johal with Advocates Karman Singh Johal and Supreet Singh Johal for the petitioners Ch Lal Singh and his nine family members, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur issued directions to the Deputy Commissioner Kathua, President Municipal Council Kathua, SSP Kathua and others that in case any action has to be taken vis-a-vis land over which the petitioners have raised construction notice be issued to the them and reasonable opportunity of being heard be also granted.
“In case any order adverse to the petitioners is passed the same shall not be implemented for a period of one week from the date of receipt of the order with a view to enable the petitioners to challenge the same”, Justice Thakur further directed.
Earlier, Senior Advocate K S Johal with Advocate Karman Singh Johal vehemently argued that Deputy Commissioner Kathua and other officers of District Administration are likely to demolish the building over which DPS Junior Wing has been constructed by ex-Forest Minister Ch Lal Singh and other members of his family because of political vendetta.
He further submitted that other buildings belonging to the ex-Minister and his family members have since been demolished without service of any notice and without affording any opportunity of being heard to them.
“The land over which the DPS (Junior Wing) Kathua has been erected is actually owned by Ch Lal Singh and his brothers/sister and it is not the State land”, he said.
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