Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: A meeting of Sainik Colony Civilian Residents’ Rights Association was held at Ram Mandir complex in Sector D, where a large number of residents, including several past office-bearers of the Sainik Colony Cooperative Housing Society (SCHBS), came together to chart out a plan of action for protecting the interests of civilians.
Prominent participants included former society Chairman Thakur Jai Singh, ex Joint Chairman Choudhary Sukhdev Singh, ex director Prakash Singh Jamwal and retired Chief Conservator of Forests Rajeshwar Singh Jasrotia.
In the meeting, former Superintending Engineer Keshav Singh Jamwal was unanimously elected convenor of the Association, while Vijay Jamwal was chosen as chief organizer. Professor P S Pathania, president of Dharmarth Trust; former Executive Engineer Nazir Choudhary; senior vice president of Chamber of Commerce Sham Lal Langar; and Ram Mandir president Kulbir Singh Sambyal were named advisors.
The Association has been formed in response to what members called a systematic denial of equal rights to civilians by the present management committee. Residents alleged that the committee has failed in its functioning, citing its inability to conduct a proper General Body Meeting (GBM) on July 5, which fell short of the required quorum of 450 members. At the failed GBM, the committee had proposed new bylaws aimed at restricting civilians’ rights.
According to residents, one of the controversial proposed amendments sought to disempower civilians by mandating that plots could only be sold to serving or retired armed forces personnel. While the SCHBS was established in 1970, an amendment in 1983 had opened the way for civilians to buy plots. Today, more than 90 percent of residents in Sainik Colony are civilians, including legal heirs of the original allottees-yet they remain barred from contesting society elections.
The Association also condemned what it termed the management’s “arbitrary and illegal” move to halt the sale and purchase of civilian plots.
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