[Eviction Of Unauthorised Occupants Of Govt. Accommodation] J&K HC Grants 10 Days' Time To Govt. To File Status/Compliance Report [Read Order]

It may be noted that on the 11th of February, 2020, the Court had directed as under:

* Principal Secretary to Government, Estates Department shall submit the details of unauthorized occupants evicted from Ministerial Bungalows/ Special houses (A-type, B-type and C-type quarters) till date.

* The Principal Secretary to Government, Estate Department, shall also provide the details of former ministers/ legislators/ retired officers/ politicians who are occupying the Ministerial Bungalows/ Special Houses (A-type, B-type and C-type quarters) both in Srinagar and Jammu, within a period of two weeks.

* The respondents shall also ensure that all unauthorized occupants Ministerial bungalows/ Special Houses (A-type, B-type and C-type quarters) both at Jammu and Srinagar, are evicted forthwith.

* The respondents shall also ensure that outstanding rent from both authorized and unauthorized occupants of the Ministerial Bungalows/ Special Houses (A-type, B-type and C-type quarters), are recovered, by even applying the provisions of the Land Revenue Act.

On Wednesday (16^th September), the Single Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey passed another order directing the government (on the Affidavit of the Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Estates Department) to update the status/compliance (within 10 days) as regards the directions passed by the Court qua order dated 11th of February 2020

Justice Magrey passed this order after taking into account the Compliance Report so filed by the Principal Secretary to Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Estates Department, along with the annexures appended thereto.

The report revealed that a large number of Former Ministers/Former MLAs/Retired IAS Officers/MLCs/Political persons are still unauthorizedly residing in Ministerial Bungalows as well as A, B and C type accommodation of the Estates Department, both at Jammu as well as at Srinagar.

Besides, it was also forthcoming that huge amount, in lakhs of rupees, is outstanding on account of rent against these categories of authorized/ unauthorized occupants.

The report also states that no effective steps have been taken by the Department either to vacate the said persons or recover the outstanding amount from them, despite there being directions passed by this Court from time to time.

In this context, the Court's order said,

" The affidavit shall also furnish the details of recoveries, if any, made of the the outstanding amount of rent from these authorized/ unauthorized occupants on the basis of the calculations made in accordance with the norms governing the subject."

The matter has been listed for further hearing on 28^th of September, 2020.

Reportedly, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has directed officials to evict former ministers and legislators of various political parties, who are illegally holding government accommodation in Srinagar and Jammu cities.

The administration had recently said that there are huge complaints of illegal occupation of government accommodation by political workers, former ministers, ex-legislators, retired officials and journalists in twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar and several of them have huge arrears of rent pending against them.

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