Srinagar: Taking cognisance of encroachment of Kahcharie land at Sheikhpora, Budgam, the J&K High Court has directed the concerned revenue officers to demarcate the entire Kahcharie estate in the village and ensure that not even an inch of the land is encroached by the mafia.
Acting on a petition by the villagers through Farooq Ahmad Khan, a resident of the area, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi directed “the Tehsildar, Budgam shall demarcate the entire Kahcharie land in village Sheikhpora, Budgam, and ensure that not even an inch of Kahchaire land is encroached upon by any of the villagers including private respondents”.
The bench called for a report in this regard and directed that it be submitted to the court by or before the next date of hearing.
The court made it clear that nobody including the private respondents shall be allowed to raise constructions on the recorded Mehfooz Kahcharie land in the aforesaid village.
The petitioners had sought directions upon official respondents to protect the “Mehfooz Kahcharie land”/land reserved for grazing purposes for entire village to the extent of more than 191 Kanals including land measuring 165 Kanals and 04 Marlas falling under Survey No/Khasra No. 191 and 177 (old) at village Sheikhpora Tehsil and District, Budgam.
They had also sought direction to the respondents to demolish various kinds/types of constructions made by the encroachers illegally and without any justification in the said “Mehfooz Kahcharie land.
The petitioner villagers submitted that there is a big chunk of land recorded as Mehfooz Kahcharie situated in the village Sheikhpora Budgam, which is being used by the villagers for grazing purposes.
The petitioners submit that out of this Kahcharie land, the private respondents (through a land mafia) have encroached upon the Kahcharie land and are going to raise various kinds of constructions without any authority of law or approval from the competent authority.
Given the gravity of the situation, the court allowed the petition saying “application under Order 1 Rule 8, for the reasons stated therein was allowed and permission to file writ petition in representative capacity was granted”.
Senior counsel Pranav Kohli, representing the villagers stated that the J&K High Court has already dealt with a similar case bearing WP(C) No. 808/2022 and has passed an order in April 2022.
The court directed a notice to the respondents and also to the public at large returnable within four weeks. The case has been listed for further hearing on October 28, 2024.
