STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the respondents to demolish the illegal constructions over the Ramban-Gool road to implement the Land Acquisition Act in letter and spirit, and seeking directions for respondents to restrain the people of area from further construction over the acquired land (State Land) and construct the aforesaid road as per the guidelines issued by BRO from time to time, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur disposed off the PIL with the direction to respondents to look into the matter and ensure that the violators are forced to remove the construction within a period of three months.
Deputy AG Ehsan Mirza appeared for the State.
According to the PIL, the road from Ramban to Gool was taken over by the GREF from J&K State PWD department for development and maintenance vide SRO No. 132 of 1994 and the GREF authorities have to widen the road since 1994 which is about 52 kms in length. It is stated that for the aforesaid purpose, the GREF authorities had acquired 80 feet Row and compensation of Land/Houses were paid to owners through respondents. It is stated that the official respondents are allowing the land owners to raise the illegal construction over the land already acquired by the respondents. The villagers of village Sangaldan made several representations before the Revenue authorities for removal of illegal constructions over the road but no action has been taken by the respondents till date. Respondents have filed their objections stating that at the side of the road there also exists a stream (Nallah) and the persons/violators, who have raised the construction along side of the aforesaid stream, were issued notices through Tehsildar, Gool to remove the constructions immediately and the persons/violators who have put up their constructions, sought time to remove the structures.
