Demarcate entire Kahcharie land at Sheikhpora: HC

Srinagar, Sep 03: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has asked the authorities to demarcate the entire Kahcharie land in Sheikhpora and its adjoining area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, even as it ordered that not even an inch of the land was encroached upon by any of the villagers.

“Subject to objections and till next date of hearing, it is provided that the Tehsildar, Budgam, should demarcate the entire Kahcharie land in village Sheikhpora, Budgam, and ensure that not even an inch of Kahchaire land is encroached upon by any of the villagers including private respondents,” a bench of Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi said.

In its order passed recently but made available on Tuesday, the court asked for a report in this regard to be submitted to it by October 28.

The court made it clear that nobody including the private respondents would be allowed to raise the construction on the recorded Mehfooz Kahcharie land in the village.

The court issued the directions in response to a plea seeking its intervention to protect the ‘Mehfooz Kahcharia land’ - the land reserved for grazing purposes - for the entire village to the extent of more than 191 kanal at village Sheikhpora tehsil and adjoining it.

The petition also seeks to demolish the various constructions made by the encroachers illegally and without any justification on the land.