Google images have exposed the lies of encroachers over duration of their possession on the State land in Roop Nagar, Jammu and established beyond doubt that the permanent structures on said parcel of the JDA land were raised during recent years in violation of the court orders.
Besides the official documents and court orders, which ascertain the ownership of JDA on this land, Google timeline map difference of year 2007 and 2021 nullify claims of the encroachers and their supporters, who are vociferously protesting against the January 11 demolition drive by arguing that the evicted Gujjar families were residing there since several decades and the Government action was subjective targeting a particular community.
As per the official records and documentary evidences, the land in Roop Nagar Jammu, where anti encroachment drive was carried out on January 11, 2022, is part of the Roop Nagar Housing Colony, carved by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) over nearly 2329 kanals falling under Khasra number 1193, transferred to it by the Government vide Govt Order number Rev ( NDJ) 46 of 1973, dated 28/1/1973 and 111 Kanals land was acquired by it in Khasra number 1206.
The encroachers of this piece of land had filed Writ petition bearing OWP number 462/1982 against the State and JDA. This writ was dismissed on 3/8/1998 and even the LPA 235/1998, filed by the encroacher families, was also dismissed by the High Court.
Official sources told the Excelsior that JDA thereafter proceeded under J&K Public Premises (Eviction of unauthorized occupants) Act against these encroachers by serving them due notices. The encroachers then filed a civil suit in the year 2003. This suit was also dismissed.
In the year 2014, sources added, JDA conducted anti encroachment drive and after retrieving the said land, carved out Sector 6 New on 88 Kanals of land comprising nearly 160 plots of 30’×60′. 127 of these plots were allotted to applicants after a fair allotment process comprising advertisement and draw of lots during the regime of erstwhile NC-Congress coalition.
By the year 2015, the allotees got the lease deed
s of the allotted plots registered in the court of law after making due payment to JDA somewhere in 2015-16 when Mufti Mohd Sayeed led PDP-BJP combine was in power.
However, the encroachers did not allow the allotees to take possession even outside the suit land and approached the High Court in the year 2014 by filing fresh writ petition, which was dismissed.
Thereafter, these encroachers filed two writ petitions bearing OWP number 1465/2016 and 1589/2015 before the High Court and obtained the status quo directions. These writ petitions also came to be dismissed on 30/07/2021 and 16/12/2021 by the High Court Division Bench.
“On dismissal of petitioners’ claim over the suit land, the eviction proceedings already initiated against the petitioners were taken forward and routine eviction drive was carried out on January 11, 2022 in coordination with local District and Police administration,” official sources said.
According to the sources, the encroachers had also applied for the regularization under Roshni Act in 2007 before the District Committee laying claim over 10 Kanals and 13 Marlas of land. However this application under Roshni was rejected by the District Committee.
Despite repeated rejection of the encroachers’ claim over possession of the said piece of land, sources said that in the garb of court’s stay order, permanent constructions were raised slowly in the last five years thus creating third party interest. Accordingly the encroacher families increased from total one in number in the beginning to 27 families, who are presently claiming to be rehabilitated, explained the sources.
Pertinent to mention that eviction of the JDA land from the encroachers has triggered a major controversy as the opposition parties and some social organizations as well as a few individuals are up in arms against the Government action claiming that these Gujjar families were residing at the same place since several decades.
However, comparative Google timeline imagery makes it clear that on the said parcel of land, there were only two or three structures in 2007 whereas this number is seen increased to more than a dozen by 2021.
Hence, this Google timeline map difference has exposed the lies of encroachers and their supporters over the duration of their possession on the JDA land.