Governor accords assent to the Jammu and Kashmir Civic Laws (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2017

Srinagar, July 8: Governor, N. N. Vohra has given his assent to the enactment of “Jammu and Kashmir Civic Laws (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2017.” The Bill was passed by both the Houses of the State Legislature on 7.7.2017.

It is to be recalled that the Jammu and Kashmir Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2014 was enacted and extended to the local areas of Jammu, Srinagar and Katra town. While according his assent to the said Act, Governor had advised the State Government to list all Master Plan violations category-wise for ensuring time bound action in deciding the nature of offences and effectively dealing/regulating the serious offences of un-authorized construction of buildings/structures in the areas covered by the Law under reference.

Governor had also advised the then Chief Minister to set up a multi-disciplinary Task Force of senior officers to immediately commence work for finalising the State Government’s Policy to regulate all constructions. This policy was initially scheduled to be formulated before 31st March, 2015, as envisaged under Section 3 of the Act, to regulate the un-authorized constructions and Master Plan violations in the aforementioned local areas falling within the ambit of the Act. The policy so formulated was to be in consonance with the Master Plans of these urban areas.

In the past three years Governor has discussed this important issue a number of times with the successive Chief Ministers, pointing out that besides infringement of the Hon’ble High Court’s orders the continuing failures of the concerned Department (s) are contributing to widespread unauthorized constructions and distract practices.  

Now, as the Jammu and Kashmir Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2014, has been extended till 30th September, 2017, and a Policy to regulate unauthorized constructions has been formulated by the State Government, Governor has urged the Chief Minister to advise all concerned departments/agencies to ensure immediate implementation of the Policy, in letter and in spirit, and ensure that prompt/timely action is taken to carry out demolition of all unauthorised structures.