Jammu : In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting encroachment of 20 lakhs kanal of State Land by the powerful land mafia in league with Politicians, Revenue Officials and Police Officers, a Division Bench of the State High Court comprising First Puisne Judge Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice M.K. Hanjura today in a significant order in the open court after expressing its displeasure/anguish over the non-cooperation/ infighting amongst JDA, Revenue and Police Officials regarding the demarcation of 66436 kanals of JDA land in Jammu/Samba Districts, directed the personal appearance of Vice-Chairman JDA, Deputy Commissioners Jammu/Samba and Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu/Samba on the next date of hearing i.e. December, 26, 2017 for explaining their positions in not adhering to the time schedule of five months fixed by the Division Bench for demarcation of JDA land.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocate Supriya Chouhan appearing for the PIL whereas Deputy Advocate General Ehsan Mirza for the Revenue Department and Senior AAG W.S. Nargal for Home Department, the Division Bench headed by Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar expressed its deep concern over the repetitive status reports filed by JDA and Revenue Department taking contrary stands thereby wasting the precious time of the Court and also delaying the demarcation of the massive JDA land which stands encroached by the land mafia. Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the PIL at the outset drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the order dated April, 11, 2017 passed by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed whereby both JDA and Revenue Department were directed to demarcate the entire JDA land measuring 66436 kanals situated at Jammu/Samba Districts within a period of five months.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed vociferously argued that the deadline of five months fixed by the Division Bench stood expired on September, 11, 2017 and around 7000 kanals of JDA land has been demarcated so far and there is open fight amongst the JDA, Revenue and Police Agency and all the status reports filed by VC JDA have expressed complete non-cooperation by Revenue and Police.
