Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 21 : In a PIL, seeking direction to respondents to protect and preserve over 300 kanals of government land that falls under khasra No 672/483/1 at Rehan in Basohli, Kathua, a high court division bench of first puisne judge, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice B S Walia has directed the authorities concerned to make a thorough inquiry into the complaint and take appropriate steps, if warranted.
The petitioner has also sought a direction to the respondents to initiate steps for the recovery of government land from illegal occupation of land mafia as envisaged under law and also initiate criminal proceedings against the officials of forest and revenue departments for allegedly facilitating the encroachment. After hearing both the sides, the court said it 'is needless to state that various government departments are bound to ensure that the government land which is in unauthorised occupation is preserved and recovered'. "Therefore, DC, 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 of Ashok Kumar, son of Balwant Raj of Mandla, Basohli, is affected, it should be put on notice so as to enable him to seek appropriate legal remedy," the bench directed. (JNF).
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