Jammu DC directed to help Vigilance demarcate land in 10 days
In a significant order, a division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice BS Walia, today issued a notice to BJP minister Abdul Gani Kohli to clear his position regarding the allegation of forestland grab against him.
The Division Bench directed the Jammu Deputy Commissioner to cooperate with the Forest Department and execute demarcation of the encroached land within 10 days.
This significant order has political ramifications because opposition parties have already trained their guns on the BJP and asked the party to clear its stand.
Today’s order was issued in response to a PIL filed by social activist-cum-lawyer Ankur Sharma, who had alleged that the minister illegally grabbed 10 kanals of forestland at Nowabad in Sunjwana, on the outskirts of Jammu.
“This is just the beginning. I hope that an FIR will soon be registered and all buildings being constructed on forestland demolished,” said Sharma after the court verdict. Quoting the eight-page status report, he said the Vigilance Organisation had contended that verified documents said the land belonged to the Forest Department.
Kohli and members of his family had raised a BEd college, an ETT school, a higher secondary school, a paramedic training college, a Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch and an ATM on the land.
Sharma pointed a finger of suspicion towards some senior officers of the Revenue Department for helping demarcate the encroached land.
The petitioner further submitted that senior officers were shielding the minister and there appeared to be pressure on officers as demarcation had not been completed even after a period of more than 10 months.
The court directed the Deputy Commissioner to render all possible assistance with a view to enable the Vigilance Organisation to do the needful. The Division Bench ordered that all proceedings with regard to demarcation of land be completed within 10 days.
Kohli, who has the Sheep and Animal Husbandry portfolio, was Transport Minister earlier. He is the BJP MLA from Kalakote Assembly segment in Rajouri district.
