Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 29: Col (retd) Mahan Singh, chairman District Development Council (DDC) Kathua, today said that 34 kanals of agriculture land comprising of Khasra number 120 and 915 in village Plakh in Basohli tehsil of Kathua district belonged to a Jagirdar and was cultivation of his late grandfather Kalu Ram prior to independence.
In a statement issued here, today he said during land consolidation in 1952 the mutation was erroneously registered on the name of Late Mansa Ram nephew of his grandfather. Later on four sons of Kalu Ram including his father Kesru Ram a farmer by occupation continued to cultivate this land throughout their life time till 1971. In 1972 this land was made Rabka Sarkar , however my father and his three brothers and later on as their successors we 13 families as on till date (mostly in BPL/small farmers category) have continued to cultivate this land.
Col Mahan Singh said in the year 2013 mutation under Roshni Act was sanctioned on the name of all occupants on this land as per revenue records, however same was declared null and void during the year 2020 and it was once again made Rabka Sarkar. As a matter of fact, Government had never requisitioned this land and also a court case has already been filed collectively under Agrarian Act for adverse possession by the occupants in J&K High Court.
Col. Mahan Singh said since 1978 he neither cultivated nor occupied this land, the entries in revenue records are naturally transferred as a matter of hereditary succession.
Maintaining that he is a law abiding citizen leading a well settled and respectable life and his children too are well settled outside the UT. He said some people were trying to tarnish his image and reputation.
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