Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 9: District administration Kathua today got nearly 100 kanal of State land evicted from the encroachers and took possession of the same at village Karandi Khurd of Hiranagar and directed the police to take stern action in case of further encroachment attempts.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the instructions from the higher-ups in the State bureaucracy, the district administration Kathua this morning deputed a team of Revenue Department to village Karandi Khurd in Hiranagar tehsil with the directions to take possession of the 92.6 kanal of State land from the illegal occupation of some individuals.
The team of Revenue Department comprising Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildars, Girdawars and Patwaris visited the village and made announcement regarding Government taking possession of the 92.6 kanal land comprising Khasra Nos 16, 38 min and 39 min by beating drums and formally conveying the decision to the Sarpanch and Panchs of the area, sources said, adding the team also earmarked the State land by installing some concrete poles and further announced that concerned Nambardar and Chowkidar will look after the land where wheat crop has been sown by the encroachers.
Rajbagh Police Station has also been informed that district administration has taken possession of the State land with the directions that stern action should be taken in case of further infringement attempts in future, sources said, adding police has also been asked to act swiftly as and when Numberdar and Chowkidar seeks assistance to maintain status of the land.
“The action, which the district administration took today, was recommended by the then Vigilance Commissioner more than six years back but Government chose to sleep over the same till the Division Bench of State High Court recently took serious note of non-compliance in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting encroachment of land by politicians and bureaucrats and issued directions to the State”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the then Vigilance Commissioner vide communication No.SVO/06/PRK-63/05-SC/4605 dated April 24, 2006 addressed to the then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had directed for restoration of 92.6 kanal of land to the State from the encroachers.
About the fate of wheat crop on 92.6 kanal of land, sources said, “after ripening of the crop the Numberdar and Chowkidar will sell the same in the market. The expenditure incurred on the seed and other activities would be given to the growers and the remaining amount would be deposited in the State exchequer”.
“Today’s action has also established that in its earlier status report the State had tried to mislead the High Court”, sources said, adding “in that report it was mentioned that this land was in the possession of State authorities and anybody who might have been in unauthorized possession has given up same before due course of law could be initiated”. However, that report was rejected by the Division Bench.
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