Srinagar, Jan 15: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Saturday issued notice to government authorities in a plea filed by J&K National Conference (NC) seeking release of an amount of more than Rs 16 lakh deposited by NC for leased land situated at village Ushkara, Baramulla.
The court issued notice to the Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Baramulla.
The court directed the respondents to file their reply by the next date of hearing and listed the matter for hearing on February, 04, 2022.
Justice Mohan Lal was hearing a petition filed by the J&K NC through its Provincial Secretary, Showkat Ahmad Mir, represented by counsel Mir Suhail seeking direction upon the respondents to release an amount of Rs.16,66,668 with admissible rates of interest deposited by NC for leased land measuring 01 Kanal 13 Marias and 03 Sirsai under Khasra No: 2477 situated at village Ushkara, Tehsil and District Baramulla which was not handed over to them by the authorities.
It was submitted in the petition that the said amount has been released by the National Conference Organization for allotment of leased land which has been received by the Tehsildar Baramulla under proper receipt dated March,16, 2011.
"The amount has been deposited in the Treasury by the Tehsildar concerned," it claims.
As per the plea the government accorded sanction for allotment of State land on lease basis for a period of 40 years in favor of J&K NC Srinagar through its the then General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad vide government order issued on February, 17, 2010 against an amount of Rs.1666,668/- which stands deposited by the petitioner and acknowledged by Deputy Commissioner in his communication.
It stated that the Tehsildar concerned was directed by Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on June, 23, 2014 to visit the spot and handover possession to the concerned Organization on spot.
In response, the plea stated, Tehsildar concerned submitted report in terms of communication dated April 23, 2014 whereunder it is stated that as per the revenue record, land measuring 02 Kanals 10 Marles bearing survey No.2620 is recorded in the name of Indian Military, out of which only 01 Kanal 11 Marlas is under the occupation of Indian Military on spot.
"The Army Officers who were present on spot, did not allow handing over of the possession of Survey No 2477 to J&K National Conference on the pretext that the deficiency of land measuring 19 Marlas be released in favour of Army from the said Khasra No.2477," the plea stated.
Pertinently, the petition stated, a copy of sanction also the receipt of payment got destroyed during the floods of 2014 in J&K National Conference Headquarter Nawa-i-Subh Complex Srinagar, Kashmir.
It was further submitted in the petition that the petitioner approached the respondents in terms of various representations but till date the amount has not been released in favour of the petitioner on one pretext or the other.
It stated that the respondents though made various inter-se communications, however, the request of the petitioner is still pending.
‘Aspirational Districts Forum’: NITI Aayog convenes panel discussion
Baramulla, Jan 15: In a bid to provide a platform where public functionaries can deliberate and discuss different means and modalities for up-scaling the indicators of socio-economic development, Country's top most think tank NITI Aayog today organized a virtual panel discussion under the banner of "Aspirational Districts Forum" in which Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Bhupinder Kumar participated.
Bhupinder Kumar was the sole representative from the UT of J&K and the only Deputy Commissioner among all the DCs of the country. He was specially invited in the event as the Baramulla district has recorded overwhelming and remarkable performance thrice in subsequent NITI Aayog's delta rankings.
At the outset, CEO Amitabh Kant presented the keynote address wherein he underlined several policy objectives envisaged under the Aspirational Districts programme. He welcomed all the participants besides extending warm applause and appreciations to DC Baramulla for excelling and recording marvelous performance among all the aspirational districts of the country.
Bhupinder Kumar, in his address gave a detailed sketch of the developmental journey of Baramulla district and shared his valuable experience while achieving milestones in public service delivery which enabled the district to stand at the apex in competitive federalism.
While presenting his valuable suggestions and feedback for achieving development oriented outcomes, the DC also put forth some issues and challenges confronting the pace of development. He added that there is a dire need to upgrade basic infrastructure in government health institutions as the people largely prefer the private sector for primary as well as secondary healthcare services. He further said that this has increased the out of pocket expenditure which has serious implications on the marginal and weaker sections of the society.
The Deputy Commissioner also presented an overview of developmental profile more especially in health and other vital sectors and said that better outcomes were achieved through collaborative approach among various stakeholders. He said that Rs 16 Crore was provided to the district as an incentive grant which was by and large utilized on upgrading basic infrastructure having their impact on the livelihoods of common people.