DB clubs identical matters for hearing on Dec 5

Illegal occupation of ministerial bungalows, ‘A’ type Kothis

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: In a significant order, the Division Bench of J&K High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and first Puisne Judge Justice Rajesh Bindal after consolidating all similar matters viz PIL No 24/2020 titled Court on its own motion V/s UT of J&K & Ors; OWP No 1750/2015 titled Mohd Yaseen Shah V/s State of J&K & Ors and instant PIL No 17/2020 titled Prof S K Bhalla V/s State of J&K & Ors has directed Registry to list all these petitions together on December 5, 2020 for hearing, regarding illegal/unauthorised occupation of Ministerial Bungalows /A-Type Kothis and other Government accommodations in Union Territory of J&K by Ex-Ministers/Legislators and other former dignitaries.
When this much publicised PIL No 17/2020 highlighting illegal occupation of Ministerial Bungalows/A-Type Kothis by Ex-Ministers/ Ex-Bureaucrats came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner submitted that on July 8, 2020 the Estates Department was directed to file status report within four weeks and additionally directions had been issued to the UT Administration in the Estates Department to place before the Division Bench the view, taken on representation dated May 30, 2020, before next date of hearing.
Advocate S S Ahmed further submitted that Estates Department has been taking directions of Division Bench casually as it did not file status report and on October 7, 2020 the Division Bench on request of Senior AAG Seema Shekhar further allowed four weeks time to do needful positively. Advocate S S Ahmed vehemently argued that orders of the Division Bench have not been complied so far and solicited orders for the personal appearance of the Administrative Secretary of Estates Department.
At this stage, AAG Aseem Sawhney appearing for Estates Department submitted that he has filed status report dated October 2, 2020 and same was not found on record and the Division Bench directed that let the same be brought on record. AAG Aseem Sawhney further informed the Division Bench that similar matters, covering the issue of unauthorised occupation of Government accommodation is the subject matter of PIL No.24/2020 and OWP No.1750/2015. After considering submissions of both sides, the Division Bench directed the Estates Department to ensure compliance by filing the status report in terms of order dated July 8, 2020 and further directed that the instant PIL be consolidated/ clubbed with PIL No.24/2020 and OWP No.1750/2015, so that same are heard together.