A Division Bench of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajnesh Oswal have directed the Forest Department to stop the work on the concrete structure at picturesque Bangus Valley.
Advocate Sheikh Manzoor on behalf of the petitioner Muhammad Umar Mir argued that the concrete construction of a forest rest house at Bangus Valley in Kupwara should be halted and a response should be sought from the Forest Department.
The Division Bench accordingly directed the department not to allow raising any concrete structure in the Bangus Valley without the leave of the court.
The court also granted four weeks to respondents to file their responses.
Pertinently, the Forest Department has started work on a concrete rest house for what it says is for the forest employees.
The case has been listed for the next hearing on 11 September 2024.