SRINAGAR: Directing the government to identify the officials responsible for allowing violation of Master Plan Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir High Court also sought details of movable and immovable properties of these officials.
Violation of Master Plan was a grave concern which could not have been taken place without the connivance of the officials who were responsible for its implementation, a division bench of the high court, comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray said.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mujeeb Andrabi against the illegal constructions, the court directed the government to identify the officials and take action against them for facilitating violations of the Srinagar Master Plan.
The court also sought details of the movable and immovable properties of all these officials.
The bench said the serious violations in respect of civic laws cannot be a one-sided affair without the connivance of the enforcement officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) and other concerned departments.
Taking serious note of violation, the court said all other concerned authorities are duty-bound to identify the officers and officials responsible for the same and initiate action against them in accordance with the law to ensure that violations are not repeated in future.
The court also directed the government to file a report about the movable and immovable properties owned and possessed by such officers of SMC, SDA, LAWDA and other concerned agencies on the next date of hearing.
The division bench passed the directions after state Advocate General (AG) assured the court that the officials responsible for facilitating Master Plan violations would be shown the door from their respective departments as per the provisions of the Town Planning Act, J&K Development Act and Municipal Corporation Act.
The AG informed the court that in principle it had been decided that action will be initiated against all the culpable officials and officers.Agencies
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