SRINAGAR: At a public meeting organised by the Kathua unit of the DSSP in Barnoti village, Jasrota constituency, various community members expressed their concerns regarding the government’s plan to move the High Court to the Raika Forest. Ch Lal Singh, a former MP and Cabinet member, highlighted the potential negative consequences of this decision, stating that it could harm the forest, the only remaining green area that provides fresh air to the people of Jammu.
Ch Lal Singh questioned the government’s justification for this choice, as the current court complex already possesses enough space and infrastructure to accommodate all the courts. He criticized the allocation of public funds towards this decision made by a few bureaucrats and their favored contractors.
Ch Lal Singh emphasised the importance of people making informed decisions to remove any obstacles hindering Jammu’s overall progress. He called on party members to intensify their campaign for Jammu to become a separate state with Article 371, in order to safeguard the region’s land, job opportunities, and the Dogra culture for future generations.
Lal Singh also criticised the government’s failure to accommodate students for college admissions and its mismanagement of the CUET (Common University Entrance Test), which caused a sense of insecurity and depression among many students.
The public meeting was attended by notable individuals, including Smt. Kanta Andotra, former MLA, Dr Hari Dutt Shishu, General Secretary, Advocate BS Jamwal, Dr. HR Sharma, Smt. Suman Wazir, Rajinder Singh Bubby, President of the Municipal Council Kathua, Vijyant Pathania, and many others.
