JK panel for ending 'illegal possession' of state guest houses

A legislative council panel has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to take measures for proper upkeep and retrieval of the assets of state guest houses across the country.
An official spokesman said, the Departmental Related Standing Committee of Legislative Council reviewed the status of assets and facilities available at the government guest houses in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Amritsar.
The panel, which met here under the chairmanship of MLC Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, called for retrieval of the properties from "illegal possession" of private parties.
The Committee deliberated on various issues related to the functioning of the guest houses and sought details on measures initiated for retrieving the "occupied" properties.

Legislators, Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Ramesh Arora, Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sham Lal Bhagat and Sofi Yousuf were also present in the meeting and shared their viewpoints.
The Committee impressed upon the Hospitality and Protocol Department to take all necessary steps for improvement and renovation of infrastructure, proper upkeep of facilities at the guest houses, the spokesman said.

The Committee urged the Law Secretary to hire the services of senior and reputed lawyers to defend court cases related to these properties-- worth crores of rupees.
It also directed for a review of the lease case of the land at Mumbai with some private parties and apprise the committee on its status.

Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, B B Vyas briefed the Committee about the status of properties outside the state, besides presenting status of court cases at Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mumbai.