J&K HC Orders CBI Probe In Illegal Constructions, Encroachment At Patnitop

A double bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ordered a CBI probe into the violations of the master plan in the area of Patnitop and Sanasar which falls in the jurisdiction of Patnitop Development Authority. The court’s order came after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in 2018 regarding encroachment and illegal constructions at Patnitop. The High Court has asked the CBI to file a preliminary report before February 26, 2020. Patnitop is a famous hill station on the Jammu-Srinagar route. People go to Patnitop to enjoy snowfall in winter. The popular hill resort has many hotels and other facilities for tourists. The infrastructure at Patnitop has been growing at a rapid pace over the past few years which is threatening the fragile ecology of the area.