Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 16 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Government has approved the construction of a multi-storied building within the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Complex, Janipur, Jammu, where various types of courts will be established under one roof.

Jammu Apr 18 PTI In a significant move the Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday appointed Suraj Singh a visually impaired advocate as government counsel for defending cases before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court hereAn official spokesman termed the decision a significant move towards ensuring equal opportunities of growth and development to specially abled who are integral to societal progress and prosperityThere has been since long a persistent demand of specially abled persons to give them due representation in government assignments he added PTI TAS SRY

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 6 (ANI): A division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has given directions to J-K's Home Secretary to identify and prepare a list of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis staying in the Union Territory, within six weeks, in connection with a PIL pertaining to the deportation illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Jammu Mar 27 PTI Authorities on Sunday carried out a massive anti-encroachment drive in different parts of Jammu triggering protests by people who blocked the Narwal Bypass for several hours officials saidAn official spokesman said 84 structures including six large commercial buildings were demolished during the day-long drive which led to the retrieval of over 260 kanals 325 acres of state land worth crores of rupees from encroachersDozens of structures including buildings and shops were demolished partially or completely near the Bathindi crossing on the Narwal Bypass early in the morning by the revenue department amid heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces the officials saidHundreds of people took to streets and blocked the highway by burning tyres and staging a sit-in against what they termed was a selective drive to dislodge a particular communityAdditional Deputy Commissioner Jammu Shyambir had a tough time maintaining law and order and was seen persuading protesters to lift the blockade with the assurance that the administration will look into their grievances sympatheticallyWe suspended the drive on public demand and asked them to form a committee to raise their issues at the right forum We are here to address their genuine issues he told reporters at the scene of the protestAsked about the demand for compensation for the damage he said the issue of compensation will be decided during deliberations with the committeeThe police officer said the drive was carried out in accordance with the laid down rules to reclaim state land illegally occupied by people and there was no violation on part of the administrationHowever the protesters accused the district administration of going for selective anti-encroachment drives to dislodge the particular communityThey came around 4 am and started the demolition drive without any prior notice The law is equal for everyone but why this selective drive in our areas Was the government sleeping when the buildings were raised Shabir Ahmad one of the protesters saidHe said properties worth crores were damagedWe have electricity connections and ration cards there is no justification for the drive It is nothing but hooliganism Ahmad allegedSeveral protesters also claimed to have legal documents for the land in question and said they were occupants of the land for many decadesAn official spokesman said the anti-encroachment drive was launched in Jammu Khas village in the Jammu tehsil and Chhanni Rama village of Bahu tehsil whereby 260 kanals of state land was retrieved during the day-long exerciseA large patch of 220 kanals of state land located near the Tawi river in Jammu Khas has also been retrieved after dismantling 15 structures the spokesman said adding the total value of this patch is estimated to be close to Rs 200 crore as per stamp duty ratesAnother prime patch of land totalling 40 kanals situated along the national highway in Chhanni Ramahas also been retrieved simultaneously the spokesman saidA total of 52 structures including six large commercial buildings situated on this patch have been demolished during the exercise he saidThe spokesman said the value of this land is estimated to be Rs 56 crore as per stamp duty rates though the market value is much higher owing to large scale commercial establishments that are located in the vicinity and along the highwayProminent sign boards depicting state land have been erected at the retrieved sites in order to secure them and prevent re-encroachment attempt by the land grabbers he saidSeveral directives were issued by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the administration for removal of encroachments on state landIn pursuance to the directions an action plan was formulated for retrieval of such land and state land and over 15000 kanals of state land was retrieved in Jammu district over the past three months and sign boards stand installed the spokesman saidHe said the land so retrieved shall be put to gainful use keeping in view the requirements projected by various government departments as well as priorities of the administrationIn a separate exercise the spokesman said the forest department has retrieved 12 kanals of forest land in Bahu area located along the highway in demarcated forest area near Raika Environmental ParkThe joint eviction drive was carried out by forest department and police whereby 17 structures were dismantled he said PTI TAS TAS ANB ANB

New Delhi Mar 24 PTI Nine judges including two whose names were reiterated by the Supreme Court collegium were on Thursday appointed to five high courtsThe Department of Justice in the Law Ministry tweeted that six of the nine new judges are advocates and the remaining three are judicial officersAdvocates Rahul Bharti and Moksha Khajuria Kazmi have been appointed as additional judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Their names were returned by the government to the SC collegium in July-August last year with a request to reconsider the recommendations The collegium had reiterated its recommendations later last yearWhile the apex court collegium had first recommended Kazmis name as judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in October 2019 Bhartis name was recommended in March last yearAmong those appointed also include judicial officers Poonam A Bamba and Swarna Kanta Sharma They have been made judges of the Delhi High CourtWhile two advocates have been appointed as judges of the Patna High Court a judicial officer has been appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High CourtTwo advocates were appointed as additional judges of the Madras High CourtIn a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Thursday the government said as on March 16 against the sanctioned strength of 1104 judges in the 25 high courts 699 judges are in position leaving 405 vacancies PTI NAB ZMN

New Delhi [India], March 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted registration of BS-VI light and heavy diesel vehicles which are used for essential public services and public utility services and directed the authorities not to insist on production of court orders for the registration of vehicles in this category.