Deposit 25 lakh compensation or remain present: HC to R&B authorities

Srinagar, Jan 31: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has directed the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department to deposit Rs 25 lakh as compensation against land used in the construction of the OnagamñKhayar road in north Kashmirís Bandipora.

A bench of Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi directed the authorities to deposit the said amount within two weeks with the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora.

The direction came in response to a contempt plea by 86-year-old Laldin Chichi and others through Advocate Ishtiyaq Mir, alleging non-compliance with the Courtís order passed on August 8, 2024.

Earlier, the court had directed the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, to constitute a team of revenue officers to demarcate the land utilised for the road project constructed in 2018 and to ascertain whether any proprietary land or share of the petitioners in Shamilat land had been used.

The court had also ordered the initiation of acquisition proceedings and payment of compensation if such utilisation was found.

During the hearing, the revenue authorities informed the Court that the directions had been complied with by it.

However, the funds required for acquisition had not yet been released by the R&B Department.

The Government Advocate for the R&B Department assured the court that Rs 25 lakh would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, within two weeks.

The court recorded the statement and directed the R&B Department to deposit the amount within two weeks, failing which the concerned officer would have to appear before the court, either physically or through virtual mode, on February 17.