STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In the Public Interest Litigation filed by one Baldev Singh seeking direction to the respondents to protect and preserve the Govt. Land measuring more than 300 kanals comprising in Khasra No. 672/483/1 situated at village Rehan Tehsil Basohli District Kathua, with a further direction to the respondents to initiate steps for recovery of the Govt. Land from illegal occupations as envisaged under law and also seek direction to other respondents to initiate criminal proceedings against all those official including forest department and revenue department facilitating the encroachment of Govt. land by land mafia.
A Division Bench of the State High Court comprising First Puisne Judge Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice B.S. Walia after hearing both the sides observed that in order to preserve the Govt. land the official-respondents are directed to make a thorough enquiry on the nature of complaints which have been filed before them by the petitioner and take appropriate steps if warranted. Needless to state that various departments of the Govt. are bound to ensure that Govt. land which is in unauthorized occupation is preserved and the same should be recovered. Therefore, Dy. Commissioner, Kathua or other officers as the case may be are directed to take appropriate action against the illegal occupants. However, it is made clear that if the right of any private individual more particularly Ashok Kumar son of Balwant Raj residents of Village Mandla Tehsil Basohli District Kathua is effected he should be put on notice, so as to enable them to seek appropriate legal remedy.
