Jammu: Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has served a notice to former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh asking him to demolish his illegally- constructed house at Nagrota within 5 days.
The JDA has issued an order of demolition in terms of section 7 (3) of control of the building in the name of Nirmal Singh and his wife Mamta Singh at village Ban in Nagrota area of Jammu district stating that the residential house has been constructed without permission.
“The construction raised by you falls within the category of major and minor violation and you have been asked to stop and remove the construction raised vide notices served upon you under section 12 (1) and 12 (2) of the act,” the notice read.
It says, “In exercise of the power conferred under section 7 (3) Control of Building Operation Act, 1988 read with Resolution No JDA/CTP/BPC/26-B dated 6 October 2007 of the Building Operation Controlling Authority Jammu Local area you are hereby directed to remove the illegal construction on your own within five days from the date of issuance of the order. If you fail to remove the illegal construction within the stipulated time, it will be demolished by JDA’s enforcement wing.”
The notice issued by the Building Operation Controlling Authority read that the cost of removal as arrears of the land revenue would be recovered from him.
“The reply in response to show cause notice under section 7 (1) of J&K Control of Building Operation Act, 1988 served to you, no reply or the reply of same has not been received by this office till date,” the notice reads. “However, the reply received to notices under section 7 (1) of COBA has been examined and considered after examination of reply and it has come forth that you have not attained the valid permission from competent authority as prescribed under law. Land use violation, if any, violates the permissible height of the building as prescribed in the bye-laws, violates by more than 10 percent of the permissible grounds coverage in the bye-laws, violate the permissible front, rear, or side setbacks prescribed in the bye-laws, and residential house without permission.”
Talking to Greater Kashmir, former deputy CM Nirmal Singh said, “I am in Ludhiana and I have learned here about the notice. I have told my advocate (to take cognisance of the matter). However, the case about this house has been before the J&K High Court for a few years.”
He said that he had bought this land in 2014 and was continuously developing the house.
“I have shifted to Ban in the last two years. And, this is the first notice, which I have received. I do not know what is in it but I have asked my lawyers to look into it,” Singh said. “Jammu has many unauthorised colonies. Many big names have surfaced regarding the encroachment on forest land. JDA land has been encroached upon, but it has not been reported. However, my case is being highlighted and matters are being politicized.”
He said that no one was above the law, and he too came under the law.
“What is surprising is how an office notice can come out in public even with so many notices being issued by the concerned department,” Singh said.