Budgam- The District Court Budgam on Wednesday came to rescue of many grazers from Branwar and adjoining villages by restraining the opposite party from causing any interference in the pastureland of Chanskani Naad in Doodh Ganga forest range in Pir Panjaal forest division.
Budgam has over 4000 kanal of grazing land that has been allegedly controlled by an influential family of the area who were disallowing many families to graze their livestock especially sheep in the area.
The court of Additional District Judge Budgam Aijaz Ahmad Khan in a detailed order has directed that non- applicants (opposite party) are temporarily restrained from causing any sort of interference with respect to the suit property.
The aggrieved sought interface of the District Court as they were being asked to evict from the pastureland by an influential Chowdhary family of Branwar District Budgam.
“For what has been stated above and given regard to the averments urged in the motion and the record accompanying, a fair and prima facie case for indulgence of the court is made out as the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the applicants and the order prayed for if not granted will put the applicant to irreparable loss” the court said in its order.
It is pertinent to mention Gujjar community of Branwar, Jabbad , Neegu villages in Budgam District were denied the grazing rights for their 1000 plus sheep in pastureland of Chaskani Naad pastureland which is located at an altitude of 4000 meters in Doodh Ganga forest range of Pir Panjal Forest Division.
The villagers allege that an Chowdhary family from Branwar Chadoora one of whose brothers is the Vice Chairman DDC Budgam have taken control over the hundreds of acres grassland (4000 kanal plus) in Chaskani Naad meadow for last many years and the family takes money as “ransom” from grazers especially from Bakerwal families of Rajouri and Poonch by allowing them to graze their animals in the said meadows.
This has become an illegal trade for this family for the last many years. The Chairman DDC Budgam Nazir Ahmad Khan had also written to LG Manoj Sinha regarding this issue and ordered for holding a gram sabha to address this issue under Forest Rights Act -FRA.
“The Chaskani Naad pastureland (bahak) originally belongs to the villagers of Branwar Jabbad , Neegu and surrounding villages and should have been technically allotted to them under Forest Rights Act for grazing purposes in summer months. In Fact Bakerwals also should have the grazing rights on this massive area but they are made to pay money for it. Unfortunately the pastoralist Bakerwal community are not ready to even speak about this issue nor are they aware of their rights under the Forest Rights Act-FRA,” said Mushtaq Ahmad a local social activist from Budgam
“The Chowdhary family of Branwar Chadoora District Budgam don’t even own more than 100 sheep while there are 1000 plus sheep in the area and are being forced to leave the Chaskani Nar meadow around Yusmarg. We are ready to take care of their sheep as well but the Chowdhary family is reluctant as they make easy money from grazers mostly Bakerwals. They also want the relief under the garb of grazing their animals and sheep,” said Rafiq Ahmad an aggrieved grazer
Advocate Badrul Dujja, a noted Environmental Lawyer, welcomed the order of District Budgam. He urged upon the Deputy Commissioner Budgam and SDM Chadoora to intervene and start the process of giving grazing rights to the people of Branwar and adjoining villages under the Forest Rights Act.
He also appreciated Chairman DDC Budgam’s intervention into this issue who has ordered for holding a Maha Gram sabha to decide this issue.
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