Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Former Minister and senior BJP leader Sukhnandan Choudhary today expressed serious concern over the issue of encroachment and alleged illegal occupation of government land in the Cantonment area during a press conference held at the BJP office in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
He stated that protecting government and Cantonment land is the responsibility of the administration and that any form of unauthorized occupation of such land is not only a violation of the law but also poses a serious challenge to government property and the administrative system.
Addressing the media, Sukhnandan Choudhary informed that a board installed near Cantonment Pillar No. 3 for identification and demarcation of the land was allegedly uprooted by encroachers during the night. He termed the incident as extremely serious and alarming, stating that the removal of an officially installed identification board marking government or Cantonment land cannot be taken lightly.
He said that if official identification signs and boards installed on government land are removed at will by encroachers or anti-social elements, it amounts to a direct challenge to the law-and-order machinery as well as the administrative system. He stressed the need for prompt, impartial and effective action by the authorities so that no individual is encouraged to illegally occupy government land or interfere with administrative proceedings.
Sukhnandan Choudhary said that Cantonment land constitutes important government property and its protection and preservation must be ensured. He urged the administration to take immediate cognizance of the matter and conduct an on-the-spot investigation to ascertain who removed the identification board and under what circumstances. He also called for a fair investigation into the present status of the site, the actual ownership and status of the land, and the alleged encroachment.
He emphasized that government land cannot be treated as private property and that unauthorized occupation of public land cannot be allowed under any circumstances. If the investigation establishes illegal occupation or obstruction of government work, the persons responsible should face strict legal action in accordance with the law.
The former minister further urged the administration to examine the old records, revenue documents and demarcation records pertaining to the Cantonment land and match them with the actual position on the ground so that any dispute or confusion regarding the status of the land can be resolved.
He also suggested that wherever government land has already been identified and demarcated, proper and clearly visible government land identification boards should be installed. Adequate monitoring and security arrangements should also be put in place at sensitive locations to prevent further attempts at encroachment or removal of official markers.
Sukhnandan Choudhary stressed that the administration must act strictly on the basis of facts and law, without coming under any kind of pressure. He said that safeguarding government property is the responsibility of all concerned departments and that timely action is essential to prevent the encroachment of government land from becoming a recurring problem.
He warned that failure to take timely action against encroachment could encourage further attempts to occupy government land. He therefore called for a coordinated approach involving the concerned administrative, revenue and Cantonment authorities to establish the facts and protect the land from any further unauthorized occupation.
Sukhnandan Choudhary specifically appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary, Chairman of the Cantonment Board, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Deputy Commissioner Jammu to take immediate cognizance of the matter and direct the concerned authorities to conduct an on-the-spot investigation.
He further demanded that those responsible for uprooting the identification board be identified and that appropriate legal action be initiated against them if their involvement is established.