PIL regarding development of Cattle Pond: DB directs AG to convene meeting, apprise Court regarding outcome
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice (A) Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajesh Sekri, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation regarding establishment of Cattle Pond, observed that in order to resolve issues highlighted in this public interest litigation, including the issue with regard to land measuring 55 Kanals owned by Forest Department, Court requested Adv D C Raina, Advocate General who is present in the Court, to convene a meeting with Commissioner /Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Forest Department; Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. DB further asked Advocate General to apprise the Court about outcome of the meeting by filing a report in this regard by or before the next date of hearing.
When the PIL Came-up for hearing, DB after hearing Adv SS Ahmed appearing for PIL, observed that complying with the direction dated 18.03.2021 passed by the Court, Jammu Municipal Corporation has filed status report dated 22.11.2021. It is apt to reproduce relevant portion of paragraph 5 of the status report hereunder that with respect to second issue regarding establishment of Goushalla outside municipal limits on 97 Kanals of land earmarked for the purpose, it is respectfully submitted that initially JMC was allotted 97 Kanal and 11 Marlas of land in Khasra No.35 situated at Village Seri Khurd, Tehsil Nagrota for construction of Modern Cattle Pound/Gaushalla for shifting of animals from unregistered dairies within JMC limits. To secure land, boundary wall by way providing chain link fencing equipped with concertina coil and barbed wire upto a length of nearly 2700 ft was constructed Phase-1st, but as per the decision taken in the meeting held on 29-02-2020 under the Chairmanship of Pawan Kotwal, the then Principal Secretary to Govt Revenue Department J&K, it was held that the possession and ownership of 55 Kanal out of the 97 Kanal and 11 Marla land allotted to JMC shall remain with the Forest Department of J&K. As per the decision taken, the Forest Department shall establish a fodder bank in the land to cater the fodder requirement of cattle pound being established by JMC. The Forest Department shall also take steps for soil and water conservation as well as other activities for increasing the productivity of Fodder production. “Land measuring 97 Kanals and 11 Marlas has been earmarked by the revenue department for purpose of construction of Gaushalla, however, the Revenue Department is not arrayed as party respondent by the petitioner. Therefore, we deem it appropriate to array Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Jammu and Kashmir as party respondent and directed registry to update the cause title of the petition,” the Court observed and issued notice to newly arrayed respondent, which was accepted by senior AAG Monika Kohli. DB after perusal of status report further revealed that there is no mention with regard to timeframe of the construction of the Gaushalla and in view of the above and in order to resolve the issues highlighted in this public interest litigation, including the issue with regard to land measuring 55 Kanal owned by the Forest Department. The Court requested Adv D C Raina, Advocate General to convene a meeting with Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Forest Department; Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu over the matter.
