It seems judiciary is lock, stock, and barrel in the state executive at the moment. At least, glimpses of that are being felt frequently these days, whenever judiciary presides over executive. Maintaining somewhat same momentum, the High Court this week directed for status quo by issuing a notice to government in a petition challenging the construction of residential house by Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, CAPD minister at Friends Enclave in Humhama, Budgam.
“Issue notice in main petition as also in CMP returnable within four weeks. Requisite steps within one week. In the meanwhile, status quo on spot as it exists today is directed to be maintained till next date of hearing,” Justice Bansi Lal Bhat, in his order, said.
Quoting the petition, the court order has said that Ramzan is alleged to have managed permission for raising a double storied residential house on plot numbers C-5 and C-6 Friends Enclave in Humhama, Budgam in league with official respondents.
The petitioner Dr Ghulam Nabi Yatoo has challenged the construction of residential house of the minister on a plea that the land meant for the beautification has been grabbed by the respondent minister.
The court has said that petitioner being aggrieved of the acts of commission attributed to respondents, has filed the instant petition seeking appropriate relief.
With days of filing a petition, Choudhary Ramzan, a senior NC leader filed a defamation suit against the litigant, GN Yatoo.
Ramzan in his plea has accused the litigant for misrepresenting the facts before the court and that of dragging his name unnecessarily in the case to gain publicity.
“The person in question (GN Yatoo) is a professional litigant,” Ramzan was quoted as saying, “and he has filed many litigations even against the people working with him under the same roof in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical sciences including the Director of the institute. I have filed a defamation case against him for misrepresenting the facts before the court and damaging my personal reputation and integrity.”
The CAPD minister said the court has given him (Yatoo) one month’s time to file reply to the defamation suit.
In his defence, Ramzan claimed that he neither has any house nor any plot in my name at Friends Colony. “My relations own a plot and a house in the said colony and they have proper papers,” he said.
-Bilal Handoo