HC seeks details of land earmarked for SDA, Army in Sonamarg

Srinagar, Oct 17: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh Thursday sought details of the land at Sonamarg that has been earmarked for the army and the Sonamarg Development Authority.

A division bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta passed the order as authorities filed compliance to the order dated June 3, contending that the authority has taken cognizance against the violators.

The court directed T M Shamsi, DSGI to place on record S O No 443 dated December 31, 2021, issued by the Department of Tourism Government of J&K, and also disclose how much land has been earmarked for Sonamarg Development Authority and how much land has been earmarked for the Army authority.

The court on its own motion was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the preservation and conservation of the Sonmarg health resort in north Kashmir.

The court also urged amicus curiae in the PIL to file detailed suggestions, if any, required in addition to what he has already submitted so far regarding the Sonamarg. The court also requested Senior AAG to submit a short synopsis with regard to the issues involved in the PIL.

“We also direct the respondents to consider the applications filed by the applicants seeking permission for renovation and repair and construction in terms of the direction passed by this court in this PIL,” the court said and sought the status of those applications on or before the next date on November 27.