New Delhi, July 22: A Delhi court on Tuesday granted to jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid custody parole between July 24 and August 4 to attend the monsoon session of Parliament.

Rashid has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror funding case.

Additional sessions judge Chander Jit Singh granted the custody parole.

Counsel for Rashid, Vikhyat Oberoi, said that the custody parole was granted subject to payment of travel expenses.

The Baramulla MP sought either interim bail or custody parole to carry out his duty as a parliamentarian.

Custody parole entails a prisoner being escorted by armed police personnel to the plea.

Rashid’s counsel had earlier submitted his client should be allowed to attend the parliamentary session by granting interim bail.

In the alternative, Rashid could be allowed custody parole, without payment of travel costs, the advocate added.

The NIA opposed the plea, saying interim bail should not be granted and custody parole could be allowed only after payment of travel expenses.

The Baramulla MP, who defeated Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is facing trial in a terror funding case with allegations that he funded separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the NIA’s FIR, Rashid’s name cropped up during the interrogation of businessman and co-accused Zahoor Watali.

After being chargesheeted in October 2019, a special NIA court framed charges against Rashid and others in March 2022 under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), and 124A (sedition) of IPC and for offences relating to terrorist acts and terror funding under UAPA.

Pahalgam, July 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today visited Nunwan and Chandanwari Base Camps and reviewed the services and facilities for the pilgrims.

The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the pilgrims, service providers, langer sevadars, sanitation workers, medical staff, and administrative, Police and security officials deputed for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra. He took stock of department-wise arrangements, logistics, lodging, disaster management, healthcare and other facilities that have been put in place on travel route and Yatra base camps at Pahalgam axis.

The Lieutenant Governor lauded the dedication, passion and commitment of Camp directors, officials of Shrine Board, Civil and police administration, security forces, service providers, volunteers and every-one involved in the holy yatra for ensuring a pleasant and memorable pilgrimage for the devotees of Baba Barfani.

“Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has crossed 3,35,000 mark. The success of the yatra will give a significant boost to the tourism sector in the Union Territory. 97 percent positive feedback received from Pilgrims. The Yatra is going on smoothly, meeting all the expectations. We are witnessing an overwhelming atmosphere of spiritual fervor and festivity throughout the base camps,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor directed health officials to conduct an in-depth analysis of patterns and causes for the health-related incidents among pilgrims, and take precautionary measures to improve overall health outcomes for the devotees.

He also reviewed the Yatra feedback system and directed for incorporating traffic feedback option for better traffic management and to facilitate the smooth movement of the pilgrims.

The Lieutenant Governor was accompanied by Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; V K Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Rahul Yadav, MD, JKPDCL and Nodal Officer, Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra for Pahalgam Axis; Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and other senior officers of District Administration, SASB, Police and Security Forces.

Srinagar, July 22: Despite passing of over two and half-years since the notification of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022, the Government is yet to implement the new framework in the world-famous tourist destination Gulmarg, allowing several hotels and commercial establishments to continue operations illegally on the government land.

In a notification dated December 9, 2022, the Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 4 read with Section 9 of the J&K Land Grants Act and all other enabling provisions, notified the J&K Land Grants Rules, 2022.

The Rule 12 of the Rules of 2022 states: “All leases (except the subsisting/expired residential leases) including lease granted under the J&K Land Grants Rules, 1960, Notified Area (All Development Authorities set in Tourism Sector) Land Grants Rules, 2007 and leases expired or determined prior to the coming into force of these Rules or issued under these Rules shall not be renewed and shall stand determined.

“Such leases shall again be put to auction as per the provisions of these Rules and the Deputy Commissioner concerned shall be the authority for issuing the notice of auction”, Rule 12 further reads.

“However, majority of hotels in Gulmarg are functioning in complete contravention of these Rules and the administration has not initiated retrieval or auction proceedings in all these cases despite having full authority to do so”, the daily Excelsior quoted an official as saying, adding “this has resulted in substantial revenue losses and raised serious questions about transparency and rule enforcement”.

As per the conditions laid down under the J&K Land Grants Rules, 2022, the Government land that has been encroached upon shall not be leased to the encroacher. However, such encroached land may be leased out to any eligible person or institution or legal entity etc after eviction of the encroacher. Furthermore, in the event of any violation of the lease conditions, the lease shall stand automatically terminated and the land shall be resumed by the Government free from all encumbrances with immediate effect and without any compensation.

“Despite these clear provisions, the Rules are being openly violated, as a large number of hotels continue to occupy land beyond the extent specified in their expired leases, with no action being taken by the concerned authorities”, sources said, adding “the prolonged inaction is occurring in a highly sensitive and eco-fragile zone where unchecked commercial activity could have long-term environmental consequences”.

According to the Rules, there should be an Empowered Committee to identify and designate the land and the purpose for grant of lease, recommend the period of grant of lease, which shall ordinarily be for 40 years, monitor every lease agreement entered into and conditions thereof and recommend to the Government for cancellation of any lease.

“However, the Empowered Committee has not started performing its functions strictly as per the Rules of 2022 in respect of Gulmarg. Moreover, there is no implementation of Rule 11 pertaining to rates of premium and ground rent for the lease”, sources said, adding “it has specifically been mentioned in the Explanation appended to Rule 11 that mere deposition/recovery of the premium and ground rent shall not confer any right of occupancy unless the lease is granted by the Government”.

“Several influential hoteliers of Gulmarg, who are illegally operating after the expiry of lease period and are in the illegal occupation of adjoining land, are making all out efforts to get the Rules of 2022 modified as strict implementation of Rules will result into auctioning of entire Gulmarg as all leases except two have expired and outlived maximum period”, sources said.