HC asks govt what steps have been taken to curb illegal constructions

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, February 1

With the anti-sealing law having already expired, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today asked the government what steps had been initiated to deal with unauthorised buildings and structures in Srinagar and other parts.

The anti-sealing law — Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Bill-2014 — was passed in March 2014. It expired on December 31, 2015.

The observations were made by a Division Bench of the High Court in public interest litigation by Mujeeb Andrabi.

The petitioner had prayed the High Court to take “strong note” of the constructions made without the permission of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and in violation of the Master Plan in Srinagar city.

Andrabi had also sought directions for demolishing such structures in the interest of the public.

“It (anti-sealing law) has expired. What steps have you taken now,” a Division Bench headed by Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar observed while asking the government lawyer what steps have been taken to deal with the unauthorised buildings and structures in Srinagar, Jammu and Katra.

The matter has been posted for further proceedings on February 8, when the government is expected to come up with it status report.

The government had in February 2014 come up with ‘Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Bill-2014’ that put a moratorium of one year on the sealings and demolition of buildings and others structures which had come up in violations of the Srinagar Master Plan.

The law, providing moratorium on illegal constructions till March 2015, was passed in both the Houses of the legislature in the 2014 Budget session. The Bill empowered the government to formulate a policy till March 2015 for dealing with and regulating such unauthorised buildings in Srinagar, Jammu and Katra.