MIRPUR (Kashmir English): The Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir Supreme Court, Justice Raja Saeed Akram, has taken strict notice of encroachments and illegal development works on green belts and parks in Mirpur.
During a hearing at the SC Branch Registry Mirpur, the Chief Justice expressed his anger at the Mayor Municipal Corporation of Mirpur.
“Why don’t you take action against this negligence?.. You should be disqualified from office for your illegal actions,” the judge remarked.
Mayor Municipal Corporation Chaudhry Usman Ali Khalid and Raja Humayun Razaq, State Officer Municipal Corporation Mirpur, Chaudhry Amjad Iqbal, Director Mirpur Development Authority, and Mirza Kaleem, Admin Officer Mirpur Development Authority, were present.
In addition to that, the top judge reprimanded the Mayor of Mirpur Municipality and officials of the Mirpur Development Authority (MDA) for allowing commercial activities in residential areas.
“The actions of the Municipal Corporation and Development Authority were a blatant violation of court orders,” the court observed.
Justice Saeed ordered the immediate removal of all illegal constructions and commercial activities on green belts and residential areas across the city.
The court also ordered Mirpur Mayor to immediately submit a detailed report on “why the authority allowed encroachments and commercial activities in the green belt.”
Moreover, the Mayor and Development Authority were directed to submit a detailed report on the illegal allocation and encroachment of View Point Park.
The court, while seeking a detailed report, made it clear that no kind of commercial construction would be allowed in residential areas.
The court directed the Director Estate Development Authority to ensure that no commercial construction is allowed in residential areas.
“No commercial activity should be permitted in residential areas under any circumstances,” the court ordered.
“The apex court further maintained that existing constructions should not be affected; however, no new commercial construction should be allowed on converted plots, regardless of whether the allottee has obtained permission from the institution,” the court directed.
The case was adjourned for further proceedings.
