Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 29: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today issued warrant against 53 engineers of Irrigation and Flood Control Department and sought their personal appearance along with two Deputy Commissioners of South Kashmir and Chief Engineer I&FC.
The Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey issued bailable warrants to 53 Engineers of I&FC Department and directed the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of concerned districts to execute the warrants. “The SSPs of the concerned district shall be personally responsible to get the warrants executed”, court said.
Court said that it is prima facie satisfied that the authorities who are responsible for removing encroachments are not only playing pranks with the court orders but also with the statute under which they are obliged to remove encroachments.
“The Executive Engineer I&FC Ganderbal shall appear in person on the next date. After hearing Executive Engineer orders will be passed for initiating action both departmental as well as criminal case against all the officers”, court said
The court after perusal of compliance report filed by DC Anantnag observed that it is ambiguous and vogue as it does not indicate where from the encroachments have been removed.
“The compliance report is ‘cryptic and vogue’ as it does not detail out which is the place where from the encroachments have been removed. The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag will file fresh status report giving all necessary details about removing of encroachments and shall remain present in person before the court on next date”, directed the bench.
Court also sought personal appearance of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and CE I&FC in order to restore the original width of river Jhelum. “The Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and CE I&FC shall also appear in person before the court on next date”, court said adding: “Their presence is required to ensure that the river Jhelum is restored to its original width in the shortest possible time and all the encroachments are removed from the banks of river Jhelum”.
Court also directed the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag to give details about the ‘original width’ of the river Jhelum in his district with further information whether the Jhelum has been restored to its original width.
Court also sought fresh status report from DC Pulwama and CE I&FC indicating therein as to what and in which manner the banks of river Jhelum are being restored to its original position as the court in its earlier order had underlined the need of protecting and preserving the ‘life line of Kashmir called Jhelum’.
Court during the proceedings heavily came down on the authorities and observed in open court that the authorities are seem to be hand in glove with the violators as they do not do anything effective as they are required to. Court also said that these officials are watching the extinction of Jhelum as mute spectators.
Giving reference of the last year’s devastating floods, Court observed that people of the valley are not coming out from the shock and your people (officials) have left them in deserted condition.
Court also in the connected petitions filed by various individuals for protection of their structures, directed the authorities including DC Shopian to ensure that encroachments as projected in the petitions are removed in accordance with law and directions from time to time passed by this court be implemented.
The Court has put up the matter for further proceedings on June 10 at 3 pm.
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