It should be stopped forever!
- The Deputy Commissioner Rajouri was supposed to chair a meeting to clear the files regarding NOC related to installation of New Retail Outlet (Petrol Pump) but has been postponed following news published in Jammu Jottings.
- The irrigated agriculture land cannot be changed into non-agriculture purpose and so at said place installation of Petrol Pump is impossible.
JJ CORRESPONDENT
Jammu, Mar 23: Why is the Rajouri District Administration so callous that it failed to come in action without publishing of news regarding installation of illegal Petrol Pump at ward No 6 Thudi Jawahar Nagar? Who is the officer/official sitting in office of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri extending hidden support to violators in installation of illegal Petrol Pump? Why are the officers posted in office of DC Rajouri so lethargic that they cannot act on their own and so they need the issue to be published in news paper to act? Why are these persons acting against the law of land besides putting the people in risk? These are some concerns to be discussed, besides these questions are very tough but relevant and DC Rajouri must come forward to make answer.
The issue of installation of illegal Petrol Pump in Ward No 6, Thudi Jawanr Nagar Rajouri has hit the news headlines that a family has tried to install the petrol pump in agriculture and irrigated land as per the revenue record. The EC of Rajouri Municipal has immediately rushed to the spot and stopped the construction work but the family again restarted construction work and the EC again rushed to spot and strictly ordered them not to indulge in anti-state activities.
The concerned Tehsildar also visited the spot as per the directions of Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajouri who issued the directions after reading the news. He flashed message in a group and tehsildar also rushed at the spot. In case the violator family again starts the work then they can be declared habitual offender by the district administration.
As per ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Prohibition on Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-agricultural Purposes Act, 2010’ section 11 says- ‘Penalty for unauthorized conversion.- (1) If any person converts the agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes or puts it to non-agricultural use without obtaining the prior permission of the competent authority as required under section 7, he shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than 10% of the market value of the such land as notified under the Stamp Act Samvat, 1977 or with both. (2) In addition to the punishment of imprisonment or fine or both, he shall also be liable to restore such land to the agricultural use at his own expense. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, no court shall take cognizance of any offence under this section unless a complaint in this behalf is made by a Revenue Officer under sub-section (2) of section 9.’
Let we see that what section 9 and subsection (2) says- ‘(2) If any violation of the Act is noticed by, or reported to, the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) or the Tehsildar, as the case may be, he shall file a complaint in the court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution of the offender under section 11 of this Act and take such measures as he thinks fit for restoration of the land for agricultural use.’
