Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has sought details regarding the steps initiated as well as the timeline for revising or drafting a new Master Plan for Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan andjustice M.A. Chowdhary also sought specific information regarding the authority under which the Army is holding the land in the ‘golden ‘meadow’.
During the consideration of the PIL, the court observed that authorities have not disclosed the current status regarding the revised or the new Master Plan giving the fact that the existing Master Plan is expiring in June, 2025.
Subsequently the court sought personal appearance of the Commissioner Secretary Tourism, and Commissioner Secretary, Housing Department, and accordingly urged the Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin Qadri to ensure presence of the officers in person or through virtual mode in the post lunch session.
When the matter was taken up in the post lunch session, the Special Secretary, Tourism, Ms. Mathoora Masoom, appeared through virtual mode, while the Chief Town Planner Ms. Bilkees Jeelani was present in person before the Court. They submitted that they have already initiated the process for revising or drafting a new Master Plan.
“Therefore, we deem it appropriate to direct Mr. Mohsin S. Qadri, learned Sr. AAG, to file an affidavit disclosing the steps initiated for revising or drafting a new Master Plan and also timeline for finalizing the same by or before next date of hearing,” the court said and posted it on December 5.
Furthermore, T.M. Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General of India, submitted that a compliance report regarding the land under the occupation of the Army has been prepared but the same was yet to be filed.
Although a copy of the report, mentioning the details as regards the land under army’s occupation, was shown to the court, the Division Bench observed that no specific information regarding the authority under which the Army was holding the land has been mentioned.
“Additionally, in the column (e) of the table, certain parcel of land is shown as hired land, but there is no information from whom the land has been hired,” the court said, adding, “. We also request Mr. Shamsi, learned DSGI, to file a detailed affidavit showing allotments/hired agreement letters if any by or before the next date of hearing (December 5).”
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