HC directive on management of abandoned roads

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 2: Impleading Chief Secretary as respondent, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed him to file affidavit regarding management, safety and security of old roads, which have come to be abandoned because of realignment, be it National Highway stretches or local roads.
When the petition came-up for hearing, Justice Rahul Bharti, after hearing Advocate Rupak Ratta for the petitioner, observed, “a very innocuous meaning petition filed by the petitioner, who is a public spirited person, brings a matter of serious concern for the attention of this court that abandoned old roads in the event of construction of new roads with change of alignment are becoming subject matter of land grabbing without attracting the attention of the local administration”.
The High Court further observed, “in the present case, the petitioner is referring to one of such abandoned roads in village Manyal, Tehsil Thanna Mandi of Rajouri which is said to be an old defence road from Rajouri to Buffliaz via Thanna Mandi”.
DSGI Vishal Sharma accepted notice on behalf of the respondent and Nazia Fazal Assisting Counsel appearing vice Monika Kohli, Senior AAG accepted notice on behalf of other respondents. The High Court directed Deputy Commissioner Rajouri to ensure that no act of omission or commission in the form of encroachment by any stretch of claim takes place with respect to the road in reference.
The High Court further directed that compliance report be submitted by Deputy Commissioner Rajouri by or before the next date of hearing. “In the meanwhile, in case the BRO solicits necessary police protection for the sake of preserving and safeguarding stretch of old roads, though in a state of non-use, then District Magistrate Rajouri or for that matter District Magistrate of every district to ensure that requisite police assistance is kept at the disposal of Border Roads Organization and its concerned officials in taking timely action”.

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