Srinagar, Dec 15: The High Court has granted Government six weeks as “last and final opportunity” for filing objections to a plea seeking fair compensation in lieu of the land for construction of Semi Ring Road around Srinagar City.
Hearing a bunch of petitions pertaining to land acquisition in district Budgam, a division bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and Justice Muhammad Akram Chowdhary directed Deputy Commissioner Budgam to appear before court along with the relevant records on March 10, 2022 if the objections were not filed during the allotted time. “Interim direction, if any, subsisting as on date, shall continue to remain operational till the next date of hearing before the bench,” the bench said.
The petitioners from Wathora Budgam and others are aggrieved of the notification dated 18.03.2017 for land acquisition issued by Collector Land Acquisition (ACR), as also notification whereby concerned Tehsildar has been directed to take possession of the land after fulfilling the conditions provided under law.
Their contention is that the process has been delayed and acquisition proceedings have lapsed due to delay.
The petitioners submit that during the pendency of the proceedings, the status of the state of J&K changed and ‘reorganisation order’ was issued in October 2019.
They plead that they are entitled to compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation & Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. They prayed for initiation of fresh acquisition proceedings as per the new law.