Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Scheme for eviction of encroachment of common lands, Government of Jammu and Kashmir

Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Civil Secretariat, Revenue Department

Subject:- Scheme for eviction of encroachments on common lands
Reference: Cabinet Decision No.188/23/2011 Dated: 19-10-2011

Government Order No.: Rev/Lit/218 of 2011
Dated: 28-11-2011

1  1.  Whereas, the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order/Judgement dated: 28-01-2011, passed in Civil Appeal No. 1132/2011 titled Jagpal Singh vs. State of Punjab and other directed as under:

… All the State Governments in the country shall prepare schemes for eviction of illegal/unauthorised occupants of the Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat/Paramboke/Shamlat Land and these must be restored to the Gram Sabha/Gram Panchayat for the common use of the villagers of the village. For this purpose, the Chief Secretaries  of all the State Governments/union Territories in India are directed to do the needful, taking the help of other senior officers of the Governments. The said scheme should provide for the speedy eviction of such illegal occupants, after giving him a show cause notice  and a brief hearing. Long duration of such illegal occupation or huge expenditure in making constructions thereon on political connections must not be treated a justification for condoning this illegal act or for regularising the illegal possession. Regularisation should only be permitted in exceptional cases, eg where lease has been granted under some Government Notification to landless laborers or members of Schedule Casete/Schedule Tribes, or where there is already a school, dispensary or other public utility on the land.”; and

2. Whereas, in conformity with the aforementioned directions/observations of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, deliberations/consultations were held by the Chief Secretary with the other senior officers (Administrative Secretaries) of the departments of Revenue, Planning, Forest, General Administartion, Rural Development Department and Law; and

3. Whereas, under Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, samvat 1996 and the Jammu and Kashmir Common Lands Act, 1956, Deputy Commissioners and Tehsildars, that is, Collector and Assistant Collectors of 1st Class are empowered to evict the illegal occupants from the State land/Kahchari land and on common lands by adopting due course of law; and

4. Whereas, for effective implementation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court orders and the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, samvat 1996 and the Jammu and Kashmir Common Lands Act, 1956, a comprehensive scheme is required to be formulated to provide for eviction of illegal/unauthorised occupants of such land;

Now, therefore in compliance of the directors of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No. 1132/2011 titled Jagpal Singh Vs. State of Punjab and others and the powers conferred by the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Svt. 1996, the Jammu  and Kashmir Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1956 and other relevant provisions of law in force in the State, the Government thereby formulates the following scheme for removal of encroachment on common lands, non-partible Shamlat Lands, Kahchrai Lands and lands meant for pathways, ponds, storing grains, water bodies, passages, cremation grounds and other common  use of the people  of the villages and also for eviction of illegal/unauthorised occupants of such land namely:-

1. Name of the scheme and its commencement – (1) This scheme maybe called “The Jammu and Kashmir Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants (from common Land) Scheme, 2011”.
(2) It shall come into force from the date of its issuance.

2. Definition – In this scheme, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms used in it shall have the same meaning as respectively assigned to them under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Svt. 1996, the Jammu and Kashmir  Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1956.

3. Identification of encroached land – (1) The Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts, shall identify the encroachments on common lands/non-partible land Shamlat lands, Kahchrai Lands and lands meant for pathways, ponds, storing grains, water bodies, passages, cremation grounds and other common use of the people of the villages.
(2) They will be directly responsible for the implementation of the scheme and are authorised to obtain the assistance of such other departments, organisations or agencies of the Government as may be necessary for the purpose.
(3) The concerned Block Development Officer shall also be responsible for identifying the encroached land belonging to Panchayats and report to the Deputy Commissioner concerned forthwith for its eviction.

4. Preparation of list – Based on the information collected by the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts, the assami-wise/case-wise list will be completed within a period of three months. The lists shall be submitted to the Divisional Commissioners concerned and Financial Commissioner Revenue for information and record. The lists shall contain details as per the format to be prescribed by the Financial Commission, Revenue.

5. Eviction – After identification of these illegal encroachments of lands mentioned heretofore, the concerned Revenue Officers shall start eviction of illegal occupation of such lands under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Common Lands (Regulation) Act,1956 and notifications issued from time to time on the subject.

6. Notice – Before initiating proceedings under this scheme, the illegal occupants shall be given a show cause notice of fifteen days by the concerned Revenue Officer as to why the proceedings of evictions under this Scheme be not initiated against them and also to produce an oath (Affidavit) documentary evidence in support of their claim, if any.

7. Hearing  - No order of eviction shall be passed by any revenue officer unless the illegal occupant is provided an opportunity of being heard and consideration of documents produced in support of his claim.

8. Order of Eviction: (1) Any revenue officer may, after following the procedure laid down under clauses 6 and 7 of the Scheme, pass an order for eviction of the unauthorised occupants of such land.

(2) Nothing shall prevent the said officer from passing an order of eviction in case the illegal/unauthorised occupant fails to appear before the court within the prescribed time or does not submit any sufficient document in support of his claim.

9. Possession – On eviction of unauthorised occupants, the Deputy Commissioner or the revenue officer shall handover the possession of land to the concerned Halqa Panchayat or the competent authority under law and make proper entry thereof in the Revenue records.

10. Targets – (1) The Deputy Commissioner concerned shall assign monthly targets to each Tehsildars regarding eviction of such illegal occupants and for prevention of such encroachments on common land/non-partible Shamlat land, Kachrai Lands and lands meant for pathways, ponds, storing grains, water bodies, passages, cremation grounds and other common use of the people of the villages.

(2) All Revenue Officers/Officials, of and below, the rank of Assistant Commissioner, Revenue Concerned shall be responsible for implementation of the Scheme within their respective territorial jurisdictions in letter and spirit and any dereliction thereof on their part shall invite disciplinary proceedings against them.

11. Monitoring – The process of removal of illegal encroachment shall be monitored by Financial Commissioners concerned at Divisional level and Deputy Commissioner concerned at District level. They shall submit progress report to the Government on quarterly basis through Financial Commissioner.

12. Public Awareness – (1) It shall be obligatory on the Deputy Commissioners of the Districts to make the general public aware through revenue officers about the encroachment on common lands of the villages through electronic and print media.

(2) The public should also be informed that any such encroachment on common lands is in contravention of the law and the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court and that any violation will attract action under law. Print and electronic media shall be used for this purpose.

(3) The list prepared under clause  4 of the Scheme will get displayed on some conspicuous place in the office of Deputy Commissioner an published  in atleast two local dailies having vide circulation in the area.

13. Review – The implementation of the Scheme will be reviewed by the Financial Commissioner on quarterly basis.

14. Miscellaneous – (1)                 The Scheme shall be forwarded by all the Revenue Officers within their respective territorial areas in letter and spirit without any laxity or deviation.

(2) Non compliance or laxity will be viewed seriously.

                                By Order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sd/-
Commissioner/Secretary to Government
Revenue Department
Dated: 28-11-2011
No: Rev/Lit/12/2011
Copy to the: -
1. Administrative Secretary__________
2. Financial Commissioner (Revenue) J&K, Jammu
3.Principle Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister.
4. Divisional Commissioners Jammu/Kashmir.
5. Deputy Commissioner__________
6.Director Information Jammu/Srinagar.
7. Special Assistant to the Hon’ble Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister
8. Special Assistant to the Hon’ble Revenue of State
9. Private Secretary to Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue.
10. Govt. order file/stock file.
Under Secretary to Government

Revenue Department

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