Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur
Wg Cdr K. K. Shah ( Retd.) vs State Of Raj. & Ors on 31 May, 2013
Author: Govind Mathur
Bench: Govind Mathur
-1-
DB Civil Writ (Public Interest Litigation) No.255/2010
Wg. Cdr. K.K.Shah
v.
State of Rajasthan & Ors.
Date of Order :: 31st May, 2013
HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE GOVIND MATHUR
HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE BANWARI LAL SHARMA
Mr. K.K.Shah, petitioner in person.
Mr. Anand Purohit, Senior Advocate assisted by
Mr. Pradhyuman Singh,
Mr. M.C.Bhoot, Senior Advocate assisted by
Mr. Surendra Singh and
Mr. Ravi Bhansali, for the respondents.
....
The petitioner, a retired officer of the Indian Air Force and practicing advocate of the Rajasthan High Court, has preferred this petition for writ to have a writ order or direction for respondent State of Rajasthan to remove illegal encroachments made in the forest land near Air Force Radar Station at Kaylana in District Jodhpur.
As per the petitioner, the Indian Air Force has established a Radar Station at Kaylana Hills in Jodhpur to keep vigil at entire western border of the country. It is submitted that at the time of establishment of Radar by the Air Foce in Kaylana Hills the entire area was not having any population and was quite an ideal location strategically, however, by the flux of time a good number of people are trying to enter into the area concerned due to development and expansion of the Jodhpur City. The Government of Rajasthan apprehending damage to the environment and ecology, declared the area concerned as -2- reserve forest. Suffice to mention that a chunk of land from this area was set apart and was allotted to the Indian Air Force to continue with its activities affiliated with Radar.
The grievance of the petitioner is that several private persons have made encroachments in the forest area and i.e. adversely effecting environment, ecology and is also causing a threat to the security measures taken by the Indian Air Force. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Van Bhawan, Jaipur, under a letter dated 6.8.2003 apprised the State Government about the encroachments made in the area concerned with names of officials responsible for negligence with a direction to the Chief Conservator of Forest, Jodhpur to initiate disciplinary action against such officials, but of no consequence. The petitioner pointed out certain encroachments made in the forest area including a Community Hall, certain temples and a 'Bhojanshala' near a religious place "Bheem-Bhadak".
In pursuant to the notice issued by this Court, a reply to the writ petition is preferred on behalf of the respondents No.1 to 5 with assertion that the Radar Station of Indian Air Force was constructed on the land measuring 202 bighas 10 biswas and the area concerned is under exclusive possession of the Indian Air Force. No complaint from the Air Force authorities is ever received about any illegal activities in the aforesaid area. However, an inquiry was conducted about the encroachments said to be made in the forest and as per that certain encroachments were found. The details of such encroachments is as under:- -3-
"2. वन ववभ ग क च क स रड र स शन क ब च म ग क द न और च र पर न मददर ह, एक पर महल ह तथ एक रड र क चक प स ह।
3. वन ववभ ग क च क स रड र स शन क ब च म ग म& पडन व ल ववभभनन भवन क वववरण ननमन नस र ह:-
क. न म भवन वन खसर म क पर म 12द ववशष वववरण स. चक स न0 ननम ण क र दर. ज1सम& जसथत ह
1. ववशवन थ 300 म 0 853 एक मददर प1 र. क इस पररसर म& मह दव मददर रहन क भलए, द हनम न 1 क एक कमर मर बर मद ववश ल मन2 त वन अर ननभमत, ववभ ग कत म& खल म& दर तड गई सथ वपत ह। गशल
2. पवतशवर 350 म 0 847 एक पर न मददर, रह मददर कलल मह दव मददर एक नव ननभमत सम 1 क स मद नरक ह>ल पररसमपनत बत र 1 त ह तथ वष 1998 म& ववध रक श मत सर 2 कत वर स द र अपन ववध रक क स स मद नरक ह>ल क ननम ण कर र गर ह।
3. र ध कCषण 350 म 0 853 मल2 मददर क आस रह मददर घ च मददर प स च र-प च F छ - सम 1 क समपनत छ कमर बन हए ह 1 कक पवतशर ह। मह दव मददर क बबलकल स मन सडक क ब र ओर ह। मददर क ह>ल ह. म& रग ई पत ई कर कर 1 णMद र कर र पत त ह त ह।-4-
क. न म भवन वन खसर म क पर म 12द ववशष वववरण स. चक स न0 ननम ण क र दर. ज1सम& जसथत ह
4. एरर फ स 375 म 0 853 वतम न म& भ रत र रह ननम ण कर चक व र सन द र च क पगनत पर पर क उपर ग हत गर ।
सथ र ननम ण क र कर र 1 रह ह।
5. एरर फ स क 400 म 0 853 त न गर 1 च र ओर व रसन गर 1 क त रबद. ह ।
6. महल 400 म 0 847 पर न महल 1ण शण ह लत बब1 ल ई म& ।
7. प च न मददर 650 म 0 848 एक एन क चट न प च न मददर क ब च म& पर न मददर तथ पह ड क ऊपर गर मह र 1 क धम पभT क सम ध उक वववरण क ववशलषण स ननमन जसथनत स मन आत ह:-
1. रदवप बड वन खणड क रककत वनस घ वषत करन क पककर प रमभ कर द. गई ह। ककनत इस वन खणड म& जसथत दवसथ न क भलए ककतन भभ2 म ननध ररत ह रह ननजYत नह. ह।
2. इस अननYतत क ल भ इन दव सथ न क सरकण दन व ल ववभभनन सम 1 उठ रह ह।
3. रदवप इन दव सथ न क आस-प स 1 भ नव ननम ण हए ह उसम& ककस वरज[\ ववशष क सव थ ननदहत नह. ह ककनत वन कत म& इस पक र क स व1ननक पररसमपनतर क ननम ण बबन सकम सव कCनत क उचचत नह. ह। म क पर म 1द मददर क प21 ररर स पछ 2 त छ करन पर उनह न अवगत कर र कक रह सभ मददर 1 धपर ररर सत क प2व नरश क समपनत ह तथ उनक द र -5- मददर क भलए उनक श सन क ल म& ह. द. गई थ । इसक पव^ क भलए उन प1 ररर क प स ककस पक र क भलखखत दसत व1 उपलबध नह. थ।
4. म क पर म 1द 2 ब 1 ल ई महल क सबध म& मझ अवगत कर र गर कक रह महल सद स ह. 1 धपर ररर सत क भत 2 प2व नरश क समपनत रह ह तथ इस समपनत क भलए भ र जर सरक र तथ 1 धपर क पव 2 नरश क ब च व द नर र लर म& ववच र ध न ह। वस रह महल ककस पक र क नव ननम ण नह. ह।
5. भ म भडक क मददर 1 ककस पर न भशल ओ क ब च म& बन हआ ह उसक ननक नव न ननम ण करन क पर सप2व क समर म& ककर गर पत त ह त ह। ककनत वन कमच ररर क कथन अनस र नव ननम ण ह न कक समर ह. ववभ ग क कमच ररर द र ब च म& दखलद 1 करक उनह& रकव ददर गर । इसस उक मददर क प कCनतक सवरप अभ बन हआ ह।
6. वतम न म& एरर फ स क रड र स शन तक 1 न व ल म ग तक एक चक प स क ननम ण पगनत पर ह। इस चक प स क ननम ण र ड ब उनc क भ तर कर र 1 रह ह तथ भ रत र व र सन सवर इस ननम ण क र क समप ददत कर रह. ह।
ननषकष:
1. वतम न म& एरर फ स क च क क अनतररक क ई ननम ण क र पगनत पर नह. ह।
2. म क क पररजसथनतर क दखत हए उक कत म& 1 भ ननम ण क र हए ह उनम& ककस भ वन कमच र. क भमल. भगत अथव बदननरनत सप^ नह. हत [र कक रह सभ ननम ण कर स व1ननक पररसमपनतर क रप म& समप ददत हए ह तथ वन कमच ररर द र समर-समर पर ऐस ननम ण क रe क र कन क -6- क रव ह. भ क गई ह। 1ह F तक ननम ण क र पर न ह। रह कब ननभमत हए इसक क ई अभभलख उपलबध नह. ह। कवल पवतशर मह दव क मददर क ननक स मद नरक ह>ल वष 1998 म& बन ह। च2कक रह ह>ल ववध रक क क अनतगत ननभमत हआ ह अत: इस र 1क र क र म नत हए सबचधत वन कभमर द र ककस पक र क र कथ म नह. क गई। शष भवन पर पत ई और छ .
म . मरममत क द र ज1णMद र ककर 1 न पत त ह त ह।
3. 1ह F तक इन ननम ण क रe क म 1दग क र ष र सरक क भलए खतर हन क पशन ह वतम न पररजसथनतर म& ऐस पत त नह. ह त ह कक क ई र ष ववर ध त\व इन भवन क उपर ग कर रह ह। ककनत उचचत रहग कक रदद भ रत र व र सन ककनह. क रणवश इन ननम ण क रe क र ष र सरक क भलए खतर ह न क अनभव करत हg त वह अपन सतर स इस कत म& सतकत बढ सकत ह। उललखन र ह ग कक रह सभ ननम ण क र रड र स शन क अजसत\व म& आन क उपर नत समप ददत कर र गर ह अत: भ रत र व रसन द र इन भवन क ननम ण क समर आपवi क 1 सकत थ । रह श रह भ उललख ककर 1 न उचचत ह ग कक पवतशर मददर क ननक 1 स मद नरक भवन प2व ववध रक श मत सर 2 क नत वर स क ववध रक क स ननभमत हआ ह वह र जर सरक र क पररसमपनत ह तथ र जर सरक र आवशरकत पडन पर उक भवन क सद अपन र 1क र उपर ग म& ल सकत ह।"
A reply to the writ petition has also been filed on behalf of the respondent No.6 i.e. the Union of India through the Commanding Officer, 33 Signal Unit, Air Force c/o 56 APO. As per the reply filed on behalf of the respondent No.6 the Air Force is having no authority either to identify or stop the encroachments coming up in the periphery or near vicinity of the Air Force land. The Air -7- Force Station, Kaylana is a prohibited area as per Section 3(3) of the Defence Act and an area of 100 meters from the boundary of Air Force Station, Kaylana is also an area prohibited. No construction by any private person or encroachment has been made in the prohibited area. However, the possibility of infiltration cannot be ruled out in view of the fact that several persons used to visit/reside at the temples and Community Hall constructed or already existing nearby the Air Force land. It is also submitted that neither the police nor any other civil agency is checking the visitors/residents of the area concerned. A need of extra vigilance in the area is emphasised by the force.
This Court by an order dated 23.1.2013 directed learned Additional Advocate General to submit Tehsildar's report disclosing complete topography of the area involved and the structures therein. The report called for was submitted on 15.4.2013. A further direction was given on 13.5.2013 to have a joint survey of the area by the authorised representatives of the respondents No.1 to 5 and the respondent No.6. The respondents were directed to identify and convey to each other the names of their representatives who would conduct the joint survey and further to submit a report to the Court by 24.5.2013. A joint survey report has not been submitted so far, however, "Counter Submissions on behalf of respondents in pursuance to Hon'ble Court's order" is placed on record on 29.5.2013. In the counter submissions aforesaid it is submitted that a joint survey was made in the year 2011 and as per the survey report the Indian Air Force is having possession of -8- 35 bighas of land in excess. Learned Additional Advocate General during the court of arguments further pointed out the encroachments made by some "Jal Bhagirathi Foundation", near Bijolai and by certain other private persons close to the government road connecting Kaylana Lake to the Air Force Radar area.
Suffice to mention that an application is also preferred on behalf of one Shri Shyam Lal Bhati son of Shri Anant Ram Bhati resident of 12, Kishore Sadan, Masooria, Sector-2, Pal Road, Jodhpur, to join the writ proceedings as respondent. It is submitted in the application that the applicant is a devotee and follower of "Hans Nirwan Sampraday" and is worshiper of Lord Shiva. He is also a Manager of Mahatma Sampurnanand Ashram, Bheem Bhadak. Mahatma Sampurnanand devoted his life at Bheem Bhadak as n ascetic and breathed last on 9.7.1991. Mahatma Sampurnanand in his life time created a trust in the name of "Mahatma Sampurnanand Ashram", Bheem Bhadak, Jodhpur. Bheem Bhadak, as per the applicant, is a religious place and is having a cave in the length of about 150 feet under a rock. The rock is existing since immemorial and in 18th century during the period of erstwhile ruler of Marwar Late Shri Takhat Singh necessary development of the cave took place and thereafter regular "Abhishek" of Lord Shiva is used to be performed by devotees. The temple aforesaid is situated in the forest area of Kaylana. As per the applicant the Air Force authorities and the Forest Department are creating unnecessary interference in open entry to the cave of Bheem Bhadak where Shiva temple is also situated. -9-
On consideration of the facts stated above, the admitted position emerges out is that -
1.there are certain old temples in the forest area concerned;
2.a huge part of land measuring 202 bighas 10 biswas was allotted to Indian Air Force to establish its Radar to keep vigil at western border;
3.the area allotted to the Indian Air Force with an extension of 100 meters in its complete periphery is a prohibited area as per Section 3(3) of the Defence Act;
4.after declaration of the area concerned ("Bada Bhakhar Forest Area") as reserve forest, several encroachments were made by private persons and they also raised construction illegally; and
5.the Government of Rajasthan alleged encroachment over land about 35 bighas by Indian Air Force also.
Having considered all these facts, we deem it appropriate to issue following directions to the respondents No.1 to 5 -
1.All necessary care should be taken for not having any further encroachment in the area concerned;
2.The commercial activities, if any, is going on within the forest area in contravention of law, then the same is required to be stopped forthwith;
3.All the encroachments and constructions made by private persons in the forest area after its declaration as reserve forest be removed expeditiously in accordance with law;-10-
4.No person except the persons authorised by law shall be permitted to reside in the forest area concerned;
5.The respondents including the respondent No.6 are directed to provide a passage to the devotees to visit the temple situated at Bheem Bhadak during the day hours i.e. during the period of sunrise to sunset. The respondents shall be at liberty to take necessary measures to maintain security and safety of the Air Force area while granting such permission.
6.The Department of Forest, Government of Rajasthan and the Indian Air Force shall resolve their dispute about alleged encroachment of forest land by the Air Force. If any encroachment made by the Air Force is established, then the Air Force either shall vacate that area or shall take appropriate steps to get that regularised in accordance with law.
Necessary compliance report of the directions aforesaid is required to be submitted by the respondents on or before 16.08.2013.
Put up on 19.08.2013.
We have also considered the application preferred by Shri Shyam Lal Bhati. We are of the considered opinion that even by accepting all the facts stated in the application he is not a party necessary to the proceedings, therefore, he cannot be permitted to join writ proceedings as respondent. However, looking to the fact that the instant one is a public interest litigation, a public spirited person can assist the Court in arriving at a just -11- decision, therefore, we deem it appropriate to permit the applicant to participate in writ proceedings as an intervener.
(BANWARI LAL SHARMA),J. (GOVIND MATHUR),J. kkm/ps