In an apparent bid to shield one Khilafwarzi Inspector (KI), namely Ramesh Kumar, against whom allegations came flying thick and fast for patronizing large-scale illegal constructions in Karnail Chak, Bajalta, Nagrota, and the emerging commercial hub Jagti, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) is dilly-dallying on action under relevant clauses of CSR rules.
It is pertinent to mention here that JK Global News, in a series of news items in March 2025, has exposed the silence of the entire enforcement wing of the JDA towards mushrooming unauthorized constructions inside one unnamed illegal colony in Karnail Chak, Bajalta, Jagti, and Nagrota. The enforcement wing in JDA is currently headed by Director Land Management (DLM), Garbi Rashid.
Nearly 23 illegal constructions, including 17 inside one unapproved colony, were exposed by JKGN and reacting to the news item, the Vice-Chairman of JDA, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, said, “All illegal buildings will be proceeded with BOCA and concerned shall be taken to task.”
Disparity in JDA’s words and actions can be observed from the fact that the Chief Enforcement Officer visited the colony in question at Karnail Chak at the end of May when all the illegal constructions that were exposed by JKGN on March 18 were successfully completed by the willful violators. Insiders in JDA revealed that, to date, not even a single notice has been issued to willful violators. Not only this, but even the action proposed against the delinquent enforcement wing officials has virtually turned into a pipe dream.
Attributing this mess as an outcome of some corrupt officials-colonizers nexus, reliable sources in JDA aver, “When, as a matter of fact, not even a single minuscule construction can escape the eyes of enforcement wing officials, then it is mind-boggling to see that illegal constructions at such an alarming scale missed the attention of KI deployed in the area for reporting action under COBO Act 1988.”
Patronizing structures being raised sans CLU and building permission, apart from causing deliberate loss to the state exchequer, also defeat the spirit of JMP-2032, and this unprecedented situation warrants that the vice-chairman, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, instead of extending immunity to delinquent officials, must hand over the matter to Anti Corruption Bureau for a probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, sources in JDA added.
It would not be out of place to mention here that after a relentless campaign against mushrooming unapproved colonies, the JDA published a list of illegal colonies in 2022. Since then, a large number of illegal colonies in Bajalta, Jagti, Udheywala, Karnail Chak, Thandi Khui, Vijaypur, Jhakh, etc. have popped up, which were still not reported by the field officials of JDA due to prevailing corrupt practices.
Evading response on the issue, Vice-Chairman Pankaj Kumar Sharma fails to respond to our calls. However, DLM Garbi Rashid, on being contacted, said, “For failure to act against illegal constructions, the dossiers have been prepared and forwarded to the VC for appropriate action against erring officials.” Exercise is underway for listing unapproved colonies in Karnail Chak, Bajalta, and Jagti, which were not included earlier in the list of illegal colonies on the JDA website. Soon, these colonies will be reflected on our official website, informed DLM.
JK Global News Take: There is an unprecedented boom in constructions sans CLU and building permission in JDA jurisdiction, which have become a source of massive corruption. There are reports of hefty deals in Jagti and Bajalta in the name of delayed BOCA action and symbolic sealing orders. Even ghost notices and missing files pertaining to mushrooming illegal commercial structures at Jagti, Ban, and Bajalta reflect stinking affairs prevailing in the Enforcement Wing of the JDA, which is still shy to embrace e-governance for ensuring accountability and transparency in its working. For the state exchequer, this is a gigantic loss, and patronizing the same has become a business of mining gold for corrupt officers as well as officials of the enforcement wing. Gratification in the shape of cash as well as plots for not reporting illegal colonies has eroded the functioning of a key organ of the Housing and Urban Development Department—the portfolio personally managed by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, and hogging news headlines for all the wrong reasons.