The Diplomat Desk
Srinagar, (TDD): The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has expressed strong disapproval over the slow progress in evicting former ministers and legislators from government accommodations.
This comes in the wake of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) 17/2020, which seeks the removal of overstaying ex-ministers and legislators from ministerial bungalows.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajesh Sekhri, directed the Jammu & Kashmir government to submit an updated status report regarding the eviction process and penal rent payments for key individuals. These include Kavinder Gupta (former Deputy Chief Minister), Sat Sharma (BJP President), Surinder Ambardar (ex-MLC), and Zaffar Iqbal Manhas (ex-MLC).
Furthermore, five other individuals—S.S. Channi, Mohd Abbas Wani, Abdul Rahim Rather, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari, and Vibodh Gupta—are under scrutiny for eviction and the payment of penal rent. The court emphasized that if the status report is not submitted, the Secretary of the Estates Department will have to appear in court.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed highlighted concerns about delays and alleged bias in the eviction process, noting that 43 unauthorized occupants are allegedly being protected by the Estates Department, despite several politicians and former ministers having been evicted.
The Division Bench has reiterated that the Estates Department must file a detailed report explaining the eviction steps, notices, and reasons behind delays in implementing penal rent measures. The court also mentioned that fifteen other individuals have already vacated their accommodations, with eviction notices and penal rent measures applied in compliance with existing policies.
The court has re-notified the PIL for further hearing on January 2, 2025, while emphasizing the urgency and legal necessity of addressing the ongoing matter.—(TDD)
