Senior Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed Urges CM Omar Abdullah to Protect Poor Nomads Amidst Selective Anti-Encroachment Drives.
||Black and White Digital News||
||January 10, 2024||
Jammu: In a significant and unprecedented move, Senior Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to protect the rights of poor nomads in District Kathua. This call comes amidst mounting criticism of the ongoing anti-encroachment drives, which, according to Ahmed, unfairly target marginalized communities while sparing influential land encroachers.
Addressing the Chief Minister for the first time on this issue, Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed clarified that he strongly opposes encroachments of state land. However, he raised a critical question: Why are anti-encroachment measures being applied selectively to target a particular community, leaving the powerful untouched?
Disparity in Action Against Encroachment:
Ahmed referred to a landmark Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 19/2011) filed by social activist S.K. Bhalla, which brought to light the extensive encroachment of government land by influential individuals and land mafias across Jammu and Kashmir. In response to this PIL, the J&K State disclosed staggering data indicating that approximately 20 lakh kanal of state land has been encroached upon.
The district-wise breakdown of encroached state land in the Jammu region, as shared by the state, includes:
Jammu: 1,60,358 kanal
Kathua: 1,04,746 kanal
Poonch: 1,29,727 kanal
Udhampur: 1,52,416 kanal
Despite the comprehensive data, Ahmed pointed out the selective nature of the anti-encroachment drive. On January 8, 2024, the District Commissioner of Kathua issued a notice to a nomadic family, ordering them to vacate state land, citing the PIL as a reference. However, no such notices have been served to powerful encroachers or land mafias who have usurped vast tracts of land.
Questioning the Bias:
Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed questioned the glaring bias in the application of the law. He argued, “Why are only poor and marginalized nomads being targeted? Why are influential individuals and bigwigs, who have encroached upon significant portions of state land, allowed to continue their activities unchecked?”
He cited specific examples to highlight this disparity. In Jammu city, an MG Hector car showroom was demolished in October 2020 following a judgment by a district bench led by Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal based on S.K. Bhalla’s PIL. However, the same PIL revealed that 154 kanal and 5 marla of state land in Khasra No. 781 in Deeli, popularly known as the Marble Market, is under illegal occupation by VVIPs and land mafias. Shockingly, no action has been taken against these encroachments.
Ahmed also pointed out that six banquet halls continue to operate on encroached state land within the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) limits without facing any legal repercussions.
Appeal for Justice:
In his plea, Ahmed urged CM Omar Abdullah to ensure that the High Court’s judgment is implemented in its entirety rather than selectively targeting the weak and poor. He emphasized that the rule of law should apply equally to all, regardless of social or economic status.
He also expressed disappointment over the inaction of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, stating, “I have addressed this issue to the Honourable LG several times, but I have never received a reply or seen any concrete action.”
With renewed hope, Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed called on CM Omar Abdullah to intervene and rectify this injustice. He emphasized the need for a fair and impartial anti-encroachment drive that targets all encroachers, not just the marginalized communities.
A Call for Equality and Accountability:
This issue has brought to light the deep-seated inequities in the implementation of anti-encroachment policies in Jammu and Kashmir. As Ahmed’s appeal gains traction, all eyes are now on CM Omar Abdullah to address these concerns and ensure justice for all, irrespective of their socio-economic standing.
For the nomads of Kathua and countless others facing similar predicaments, the hope remains that this call for justice will not go unanswered.
