HC summons DM, SP & DFO of 2 districts over forest land grab
2 min readPATNA: The Patna high court on Saturday summoned the district magistrate (DM), superintendent of police (SP) and divisional forest officer (DFO) of Nalanda and Kaimur over massive encroachment of forest land in both the districts.
The division bench of Chief Justice M R Shah and Justice Ravi Ranjan was hearing a PIL filed by Vikash Chandra alias Guddu Baba, who alleged that a large chunk of forest land had been encroached in Nalanda and Kaimur among other districts.
The petitioner submitted a letter procured through RTI in which the of Nalanda DFO had his expressed inability to remove encroachments from around 1.3 acre of forest land in the district because of strong resistance by the encroachers leading to law and order problem.
“The state (government) can’t say there will be problem of law and order. It’s the state’s responsibility to maintain the rule of law,” the court made a verbal remark and ordered all the officials concerned to physically remain present on the next date of hearing on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the division bench ordered the Sitamarhi district judge to inquire about the facilities and infrastructure available at the district sadar hospital for patients and attendants and submit a report before September 11. The court was hearing a PIL filed by Madan Chaudhary, who had alleged lack of basic infrastructure at the sadar hospital. Additional advocate general Suryadeo Yadav submitted that the hospital had all the required basic infrastructure. “Altogether 2,585 ultrasounds, 1499 x-rays, 428 pathological tests and several other things were performed at the hospital from August to October 2017,” he submitted, adding these things would not have been possible without basic infrastructure.
While hearing another PIL by Vikash Chandra alias Guddu Baba, the division bench asked AAG Sarvesh Kumar Singh when was the last international or national level sports was played at the Moinul Haq stadium in Patna. The AAG failed to reply. The PIL is over the pitiable condition of stadiums across Bihar and the high court has been urged to direct the authorities concerned to take necessary step on the issue. “This is the biggest stadium you have with good infrastructure, but still no international and national sports had taken place in recent past. What have you done,” Justice Ranjan made a verbal remark. The AAG submitted that the state government has decided to give the stadium on 30 years lease for its development. The court has asked to make Bihar State Sports Authority and Bihar Cricket Association respondents in the case. The matter would be heard again on September 11.
Courtesy: TNN
