Army’s Warfare School coming up without permission in Sonamarg

Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the High Court that a High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) is being set up by Army without permission in tourist resort Sonamarg even as the Court directed the Army to produce the permission documents before it on September 11.
While chief executive officer Sonamarg Development Authority told a division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey that the Army is raising constriction of HAWS unauthorisedly and without permission from BOCA at Neelgrath in Sonamarg, assistant solicitor general Tahir Shamsi said Army has a permission for construction of the same.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation against vandalizing of Sonamarg health resort.
SDA has sought directions for demolition of the construction, saying the area in which it is being set up falls under its jurisdiction.
CEO of SDA today told the court that Army does not allow the Authority to have on spot inspection of HAWS. “They don’t allow us to enter their premises. They raise the constructions without permission” he told the court.

“Notice under Section 7 of Control of Building Operation Act was issued to the respondents (Army) but no positive response was received from them and they are continuing with the construction of HAWS without obtaining permission,” said the SDA.
As soon as the PIL came up for hearing, the bench examined the maps it had directed the concerned authorities to produce before court. “Don’t vandalize Sonamarg. Save it,” the court observed, after examining the maps.
The court observed that plotting has been done in the meadow of Sonamarg on one side of the road leading to Leh. “Plotting means constructions will come in the area. If this area goes entire Sonamarg will go. Save it,” the CJ remarked.
The High Court has already banned construction activity in Sonamarg after it revived a related Public Interest Litigation which it had already disposed.