High court bans construction work in Gulmarg ski resort

Jammu and Kashmir High Court has banned all constructions in famous ski resort at Gulmarg in North Kashmir and directed the state government to transfer a Gulmarg Development Authority official for failing to check illegal activities.
A Division Bench comprising Justices M H Attar and Ali Mohammad Magrey yesterday directed the authorities to ensure that all construction activities in Gulmarg be stopped and vehicles carrying construction material to the resort be seized.
The court order banning construction and transportation of construction material came following reports of large scale illegal construction in the garb of minor repairs and without proper permission from the authorities.

"Deputy Commissioner as also Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla and Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) shall forthwith enforce the above direction and ensure no construction activities is undertaken at Gulmarg till further orders from the court," the bench said.
The court order came in the wake of serious allegations made in a report which prima facie indicated grave irregularities committed in allowing the people to renovate and repair their structures.
Also, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last week had tweeted that illegal constructions were taking place under the garb of minor repairs in the famous tourist resort in Gulmarg.

The bench also directed the authorities to seal the structures where construction activities are not stopped forthwith.

"That no building material or constructional material shall be transported to the Ski resort till further orders from the court," the court said.
Observing that the situation which has arisen in and around the famous Ski resort by allowing the construction activities without proper permission, the bench also directed to transfer a GDA Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) immediately.
The court expressed serious concerns and displeasure over
the attitude of GDA by allowing the construction material to Gulmarg without granting permission for construction or for effecting repairs and renovations of the structures.
The bench also asked Principal District Judge Anantnag, who has been appointed as Court Commissioner, to visit Gulmarg and inspect all the structures which have already been inspected by him earlier and submit his detailed report indicating therein, whether the recommendation made by him have been complied with no deviations.

"Deviations, if any, shall be recorded by him in his report and copy thereof shall be supplied to CEO Gulmarg, besides filing report in this behalf before the Registrar Judicial," the court said.
Joint Registrar of High Court has been directed to assist the Court Commissioner in conducting fresh inspection and asked the court officials to visit Gulmarg on non-working days or holidays.
The court said that all the interested persons and the authorities of CEO Gulmarg shall remain present at the respective sites at the time of inspection by the Court Commissioner as and when the date of visit shall be notified.

It also directed the persons, who have filed application for spot inspection by the Court Commissioner for his recommendation with regard to the construction of their structures, to deposit Rs 10,000 each with the Registrar Judicial of the High Court within a period of one week.
All the vehicles transporting construction material towards Gulmarg shall be seized, the court ordered.