The High Court Wednesday came down heavily on the Jammu and Kashmir government for its laxity in acting against those holding land illegally at the ski-resort of Gulmarg, saying it was a serious matter and deserved urgent attention.
“It is to be noted here that property worth crores of rupees is being squandered by persons whose leases have expired,” the court said.
“Such a situation brooks no delay.”
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking conservation of Gulmarg environs, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjeev Kumar sought details of decision taken by the Gulmarg development authority regarding the expired leases by March 14, the next date of hearing.
“This serious matter deserves urgent attention. The respondents shall positively place before this court the decision taken on the issue before the next date of hearing failing which we shall be constrained to take stringent measures,” the court said.
The bench observed that delay in taking action to secure the illegally held land was completely intolerable.
Following the submission by M A Chascoo, the state’s additional advocate general that a meeting regarding the matter could not take place due to unavoidable circumstances, the court expressed displeasure at no tangible results achieved for more than five months.
In 2014, the J&K government admitted before the High Court that some persons were in possession land without proper allotment around the famed ski resort.
The high court has already dismissed Nedous hotel owner’s petition challenging a government order asking him to vacate 98 kanals of land occupied unauthorised at Gulmarg.
Meanwhile, the court Wednesday also directed GDA to ensure that the first phase of the Master Plan for the tourist resort is put in the public domain on its website forthwith.