Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 9: High Court has directed for identification of all illegal religious encroachments in J&K and Ladakh and placing the information before the Chief Secretaries of both UTs in order to make a policy decision in this regard.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta directed the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to obtain a report from all the Deputy Commissioners of all the illegal religious structures which have come up by way of encroachment on public land, with location of encroachments, area encroached and details of the encroacher.
Court directed the exercise shall be completed by the Deputy Commissioners within six weeks and report be placed before the Chief Secretaries of both UTs of J&K and Ladakh. Chief Secretaries have been directed to consider the matter and take a policy decision on the issue.
The DB sought the policy decision taken by the CSs be placed before the Court on next date of hearing. Court has also observed that a separate PIL may have been registered in Jammu wing of the High Court with regard to encroachments of religious structures in Jammu Province. DB directed the Registrar General to consolidate the petitiions for hearing with the present PIL.
The matter is taken by the court on the directions of Supreme Court with respect to removal of illegal religious structures on public land. Supreme Court had impleaded all States and the UTs as party respondents in the matter.
High Court has also sought the records of court orders passed by the apex court as also its proceedings be provided to Chief Secretary to ensure compliance. Court said the CSs of the States and Administrators of UTs were directed to review the encroachments on the case to case basis and take appropriate steps as expeditiously as possible but nothing has been filed till date.
Court directed the Registrar General to take steps for obtaining the copy of petition and other relevant records from the Supreme Court by or before next date of hearing.
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