Jammu, Jun 19: The Deputy Commissioner of Jammu has initiated an enquiry into a new forest land encroachment case in Village Bain Bajal, ordering a Joint Commission to investigate and submit a detailed report within a fortnight. This follows years of administrative silence over numerous similar land-related issues in the district, where reports were sought but no actions followed, even in instances involving fraudulent permissions and cancellation of multiple land mutations.
The latest controversy involves Khasra No. 474, where attempts were made to acquire No Objection Certificates for setting up petrol pumps and other infrastructure. Forest authorities flagged these activities as unauthorised, pointing toward encroachment by Ex-MLC Hussain Mohd on forest compartment No. 23 in Bajalta.
In response, the district administration has constituted a multi-departmental commission comprising officials from the revenue, forest, and administrative wings. Their objective is to demarcate the forest land and ascertain the extent of encroachment. The panel has been directed to act swiftly and may include other officers if required to strengthen the probe.
Despite the urgency in this case, past incidents involving land grabbing have continued to languish in bureaucratic limbo. One case saw the issuance of a fraudulent permission, followed by the cancellation of four land mutations—yet no accountability has been fixed to date. Activists and observers have long criticised this lack of follow-up, warning that such inaction encourages further irregularities.
The current directive from DC Sachin Kumar Vaishya is seen as a test of administrative will to break the pattern of delays and bring accountability to land governance in Jammu. The findings of the commission are expected to determine the next course of action and possibly set a precedent for handling pending cases.
