Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Keeping in view expiring of Master Plan (MP) for Sonamarg tourist resort, High Court has sought information from the Government disclosing therein the steps taken so far for the revising or draft of new Master Plan by tomorrow.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M A Chowdhary during the course of proceedings in the matter has been apprised that the existing Master Plan for the Sonamarg resort is expiring in June 2025 and in view of this fact the court kept the matter again tomorrow for further proceedings with the direction to the Sr. AAG Mohsin Qadri to come up with an affidavit detailing therein as to what steps the Government has taken for revising of new Master Plan for the resort.
When the court was apprised about the expiring of MP in pre-lunch session of the proceedings, the court sought personal appearance of the Commissioner Secretary Tourism, and Commissioner Secretary, Housing Department, and accordingly the Sr.AAG, was requested to ensure presence of officers in person or through virtual mode in the post lunch session and the matter was accordingly, directed to be taken up in the post lunch session.
In the post lunch session the matter was again taken up and the Special Secretary, Tourism, Mathoora Masoom, appeared through virtual mode, while the Chief Executive Officer Bilkees Jeelani was present in person before the Court.
They submitted that they have already initiated the process for revising or drafting a new Master Plan. “Therefore, we deem it appropriate to direct Mohsin S. Qadri, Sr. AAG, to file an affidavit disclosing the steps initiated for revising or drafting a new Master Plan and also timeline for finalizing the same by or before the next date of hearing. List on 5.12.2024”, DB directed.
Furthermore, the Deputy Solicitor General of India on behalf of the Army submitted that a compliance report regarding the land under the occupation of the Army has been prepared but the same is yet to be filed. Although a copy of the report has been shown to the court in which details with regard to the land under the occupation of the Army has been mentioned.
Court on perusal of the report said that the details have been provided in a tabulated form however, the same does not provide the specific information regarding the authority under which the Army is holding the land.
“Additionally, in the column (e) of the table, a certain parcel of land is shown as hired land, but there is no information from whom the land has been hired. We also request Shamsi, DSGI, to file a detailed affidavit showing allotments/hired agreement letters if any by or before next date of hearing”, read the direction.
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