The Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued a circular warning those involved in illegal constructions and encroachments.
Authorities have made it clear that disciplinary actions will be taken if there is a delay in reporting violations of Master Plans and Building Bye-laws in future. It is admitted that field staff of different wings of the Housing and Urban Development Department have shown carelessness and negligence in reporting violations.
Many High Court directions will be implemented as field staff is made more accountable according to latest directives. Circular issued by the department states that Housing and Urban Development Department has come to know through various sources including Anti-Corruption Bureau that field staff is not reporting illegal constructions to their senior officers timely.
The government said that field staff which has responsibility to check these illegal constructions has shown carelessness and negligience and as a result, these illegal constructions have been carried out. All Head of the Departments who work under Housing and Urban Development Department have been directed to make sure that field staff remains vigilant and properly do their assigned jobs.
The government has warned employees that if they fail to do their duties within timeframe then disciplinary action will be immediately taken against them according to rules.
Housing and Urban Development Department manages Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Jammu Development Authority, Srinagar Development Authority, Jammu Municipal Corporation, all Municipal Councils, Municipal Committees, Directorates of Urban Local Bodies, Housing Board and Urban Environment Engineering Department.
Sources said that many directions of the High Court will be implemented as this advisory got issued. There have been many instances when the High Court has asked to develop a fool-proof mechanism for timely checking violations of building bye-laws and making sure that the enforcement wings are accountable.
Chief Justice Gita Mittal of the High Court said on December 3, 2018 that municipal laws are developed to make sure that planned development takes place within the Municipal limits. Any individual or authority can be allowed to violate the Master Plan in any condition. The Division Bench had also issued directions to the Government for developing a foolproof mechanism to ensure that Master Plan is not violated.
