Hospital Land Encroached!

Whistleblower reveals Internal Report Submitted, but encroachers remain untouched

Report Submitted After Demarcation, But No Action Taken Against Influential Encroachers
Former DC Issued Notices; Administrative Silence Raises Questions of Complicity

JJ Toseef R Ganai
POONCH, April 14: An alarming episode of land encroachment at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital Poonch the principal public health facility in the region has triggered widespread concern, as the administration remains conspicuously inert. The protracted delay in addressing the issue has provoked accusations of wilful negligence and collusion, casting a long shadow over the integrity of local governance.
According to credible sources, a substantial tract of land, estimated between 52 kanals and 60 kanals, originally bequeathed by Raja Sukhdev Singh for the express purpose of expanding medical infrastructure, has been unlawfully occupied. This unauthorised occupation persists despite the constitution of a nine-member revenue commission by Tehsildar Haveli (vide order no. TH/HQ/2661 dated 16-02-2023), which conducted an on-site inspection on February 17, 2023.
In a startling disclosure, a whistleblower revealed that following the demarcation drive, the commission did, in fact, submit a comprehensive report to the higher authorities. However, as per sources, despite the official submission, no corrective measures were taken. The whistleblower further alleged that, as per internal accounts, the individuals involved in the encroachment enjoy substantial political and bureaucratic backing, with some reportedly occupying guest or honorary positions that afford them undue influence and protection.
The informant also claimed that a former Deputy Commissioner Poonch (name withheld) had issued formal notices to the encroachers in an attempt to initiate legal proceedings. However, as per sources within the administration, no tangible action has materialised to date, reinforcing suspicions of institutional inertia or calculated inaction.
Civic leaders and residents have vociferously condemned the apathy. “It is inconceivable that land meant for public welfare has been usurped with impunity, and the authorities have chosen to remain silent,” lamented a prominent resident. The discrepancy in the reported land size some officials claim 52 kanals and 5 marlas, while others assert it exceeds 60 kanals-further complicates the matter and warrants immediate clarification.

Adding to public frustration, serious question marks now loom over the credibility of the district administration itself, as well as the transparency and effectiveness of the demarcation process. As per sources familiar with the proceedings, the report has been lying unattended, raising doubts about the intent to act at all.

Reports suggest that individuals implicated in the encroachment are leveraging influence to suppress the case, subverting due process and perpetuating administrative malaise. Such precedents of regulatory transgression have eroded public confidence and painted a grim picture of local governance.

In Poonch, many allege that the demolition drives are disproportionately targeted at the poor and marginalised, especially farmers who have spent their entire lives to lawfully purchase or settle land in red zone areas. Ironically, no such stern action is seen against powerful encroachers or ‘officer shahi’ the bureaucratic elite, who continue to enjoy protection despite blatant violations. This apparent double standard in enforcement has deepened public resentment and eroded trust in administrative fairness.

The implications are deeply troubling failure to recover the hospital’s encroached land not only compromises future expansion of critical healthcare infrastructure but also emboldens future transgressors. “If the state cannot protect land designated for public health, what recourse do ordinary citizens have?” queried a retired bureaucrat.

Given the gravity of the issue, the administration must investigate this matter on a priority basis, take strict legal action against the encroachers, and initiate recovery of tax and penalties from the date of encroachment to the present day. This would not only serve justice but also deter any future attempts at unlawful occupation of public land.

There is an exigent need for a comprehensive and impartial inquiry, overseen by higher echelons of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory administration, to unearth the facts and restore institutional credibility. The government must act decisivelynot merely to reclaim the land but to reaffirm the rule of law and demonstrate that public interest remains paramount.