STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In the much publicised Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Prof. S.K. Bhalla highlighting alleged hushing up of Chatta Sunjwan land scam, a Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court comprising Chief Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur on Thursday granted three weeks further time to Commissioner/Secretary Revenue J&K Govt Mohammad Afzal Bhat (IAS) to file an updated status report after getting the relevant information from Divisional Commissioner Jammu and other Deputy Commissioners of Jammu Province. Earlier, the Division Bench on April, 26, 2016 had expressed displeasure over delay in finalising the matter with regard to alienation of land measuring 724 kanals in contravention of land laws/rules wherein the SDM South Jammu had submitted his inquiry report to the Secretary Revenue and the Revenue Department had pointed out three discrepancies in the said inquiry and had directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to request all the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu Division for furnishing the details of land held by M/s SRK Associates, so that the issue is finalized.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina and Suraj Singh appearing for the petitioner Prof. S.K. Bhalla, Senior AAG S.S.Nanda appearing for Revenue Department, Mohammad Afzal Bhat Secretary Revenue appearing in person, Sr. Advocate L.K.Sharma with Advocate Gurupratap Singh appearing for M/s SRK Associates, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur perused the fresh status report filed by Secretary Revenue wherein he sought four weeks time to submit the requisite information/opinion in the matter after getting the information from Divisional Commissioner Jammu and other Deputy Commissioners. However, the Division Bench, looking into the importance and public interest involved, granted three weeks time to the Commissioner/Secretary Revenue who was present in person in the court to do the needful by filing the updated status report.
Division Bench also exempted Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue from personal appearance in view of the filing of the fresh status report by him and also the miscellaneous application seeking exemption from personal appearance.
In another status report, the Commissioner/Secretary Revenue also apprised the court that vide Govt. order No.44-Rev(S) of 2016 dated 01-04-2016, Regional Director Settlement & Survey, Jammu has been appointed as Inquiry Officer to fix the responsibility and identify the Officers/Officials who have actually tampered the Revenue Records of Village Sunjwan, Jammu as pointed out by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. The status report further says that the inquiry officer has been asked to submit his findings within a period of 15 days.
Sr. AAG Seema Khajooria Shekher also filed status report on behalf of Crime Branch Jammu wherein it was submitted that during the course of further inquiry vide signal No.5306 dated 22-03-2016 and signal No.CBJ/AH/16/7017 dated 22-04-2016 matter was taken up with DC Poonch/SDM Mendhar to arrange the presence of then Asst. Commissioner Revenue Jammu Sher Singh (KAS) who was member of the Committee which carried out the demarcation of land falling under Khasra No.1442 situated at Sunjwan Chatta, Jammu. In the status report it is further submitted that vide office letter No.CBJ/AH/16/6705-07 dated 12-04-2016 Deputy Commissioner Jammu was also requested to provide detailed report and copies of the Khasra Girdawaries in respect of the land falling under Khasra No.1442 measuring 20 kanals 12 marlas since 1952 till date including other records pertaining to the land. The report further says that verification is still under progress and some more persons acquainted with the matter have been summoned for questioning besides the remaining records are yet to be collected in order to ascertain as to how and why the nature of land with regard to ownership was changed so that the instant verification can be concluded on merits at the earliest.
