Srinagar: The J&K High Court has taken serious note of illegal constructions in Gulmarg and directed for an immediate action after a report was filed.
The report on illegal constructions was submitted by Registrar Judicial before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjeev Kumar.
The court directed Registry of the court to serve a copy of the report through Station House Officer police Station Gulmarg to hotel owners who have resorted to illegal constructions. They include Khillan Hut, Green Tree, Police Hut and Rosewood in Gulmarg.
The Additional Advocate General (AAG), B A Dar when asked about it, submitted before the court that the Hotel Green Tree has been completely raised on the state land and a case (FIR 12/2019) has been registered for the illegal construction. He said that investigations are on.
Also, the Registrar Judicial reported about illegal constructions in Tangmarg and named Hotel Pineview, Tangmarg, special forest division, Tangmarg and a Fisheries department building at Tangmarg for violations.
The court directed that a copy of the report should be served to the hoteliers as well and there response should be submitted to the court by November 28.
The report was filed after the court had ordered the Registrar Judicial to do so following complaints about illegal constructions taking place in Gulmarg.
Giving details about each case, report said that inspections were carried out in Khillan Hut and it was found that the structure is being erected on columns consisting of more than 36 concrete columns.
“The building was covered by tin sheets on all sides so that construction is carried out secretly,” it said adding that during earlier visit, the structure comprised of only two floors.
The report said that during an inspection to Police Hut, a concrete wall was being constructed in sheer violation of the court direction.
In April 2015, the High Court had directed all the property owners of the Gulmarg to enclose their premises by wood fencing.
“The CEO GDA was reiterated the direction of court regarding fencing of the property. However no action seems to have been taken in this behalf by the CEO concerned and it was found that the construction is still going on and about 23 concrete pillars have been constructed each 5feet tall above the plinth,” the report added.
At Hotel Rosewood, the report said that owner constructed the cantilever (Verandah) without permission of a competent authority.
“Such deviations/violations were also found in certain Tangmarg hotels,” it noted.

NUSRAT SIDIQ