Srinagar: A city court Saturday issued notices of contempt against Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Vice-Chairman Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) and many other senior officers for demolishing a house which is the subject matter of a legal suit.
The court also directed the personal appearance of the Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.
The notices of contempt were passed in a case filed by three brothers from Alamgari Bazar Srinagar whose house was demolished by the authorities some days ago.
The demolition proceeded despite the court having on July 28, 2022 retrained the Vice-Chairman LCMA, its Secretary and its Chief Enforcement Officer “from causing any sort of interference with the possession of the suit property”.
Nisar Ali Mir, one of the brothers even sought direction to the Police Station Zadibal for registration of FIR against Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the Vice-Chairman LCMA, Athar Khan, the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Zahid Safdar, the Enforcement Officer LCMA and Suhail Nabi Chintsaz, the Chief Enforcement Officer SMC.
The court of Sub Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Raja Mohammad Tasleem directed the SHO Zadibal to investigate the matter strictly in terms of application and submit a report.
The counsel representing the brothers moved one more application seeking contempt proceedings against the contemnors, Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.
He averred that despite having knowledge of the court directions, “they have proceeded on spot and started the demolition process and have demolished the structure which is the subject matter of the suit”.
Counsel for the defendant authorities accepted the notice in the contempt petition. He sought some time to file a statement of facts on the issue.
“However, in the meantime the contemnors from 1 to 3, which include Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, shall cause their presence before this court personally to apprise it as to what has happened on the spot,” directed the court.
Further proceedings of the case shall come on December 10, 2022.
