| HC notice to J&K minister Kohli for 'raising' edu complex on forest land | | ** DC accused of shielding accused, directed to demarcate land in 10 days | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 10: A high court division bench of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice B S Walia today directed registry to issue a notice to Animal and Sheep Husbandry Minister Abdul Gani Kohli while expressing its displeasure over the non-cooperation of Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, with the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) which is probing a complaint, highlighting the alleged encroachment of 10 kanals of forest land by the minister at Nowabad, Sunjwan.
On the encroached forest land, Kohli is stated to have raised a huge educational complex housing a B Ed college, an ETT college, B N Para-Medical School and B N Public School, besides an ATM and a branch of J&K Bank.
The petitioner, who appeared in court in person, drew the court attention to the detailed status report already filed by SVO wherein it was disclosed that, as per the record submitted by Divisional Forest Officer, demarcation division No 1, Jammu, vide his August 7, 2015 letter No 238-40/DMR, khasra No 356 comprising of compartment Nos 1, 3, 5 of Bahu range was forest land.
The status report says that as per the records duly scrutinised by naib-tehsildar, girdawar and range officer, the total land under these forest compartments was 1540 kanals 7 marlas. It also stated Kohli's education complex was raised on khasra No 356 of Nowabad, Sunjwan, which was forest land.
It was stated that while SVO took up the matter with DC, Jammu, vide letter No SSP/2015/HLP/3171/VOJ on July 20, 2015 for demarcation of the disputed land, he had so far not cooperated with it. The petitioner alleged that the DC was shielding the minister and there also appeared to be some pressure on him while referring to the Apex Court judgment in a case titled Lalita Kumari v/s State of U P and others wherein it was directed that a preliminary inquiry in a corruption case should not exceed 15 days.
He said he had lodged the complaint with SVO on June 16, 2015, but due to non-cooperation by the DC, the whole inquiry had come to a stand still. "A time bound schedule is required to be fixed so that the inquiry gets finalized and all those involved are dealt under law," he demanded.
After hearing him, the court expressed displeasure, saying it appeared that some government functionaries, including DC, Jammu, were not cooperating in demarcating the land. It then directed the DC to render all possible assistance to SVO to do the needful. Looking into the importance of the issue, the bench directed that all proceedings with regard to the demarcation of the land would be completed within 10 days from today.
The petitioner said all out attempts were being made to shield the minister as SVO's status report had clearly revealed that a huge educational complex had come up on the forest land, but the government was completely unmoved due to the political clout of the minister.
He sought immediate directions for removal of the encroachment and the registration of FIR against the sitting cabinet minister and all those who facilitated the encroachment of forest land.
The bench said from the records it appeared that Kohli had never been served a notice and in the first instance, notices were issued to SVO. Looking into the seriousness of the matter, the court then directed registry to issue notice to Kohli for which fresh particulars had already been provided by the petitioner. (JNF) |
|
