Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 16

Amid raging controversy over construction of a building by Mamta Singh, wife of Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh, near an Army ammunition depot at Nagrota, the J&K High Court, Jammu bench, on Wednesday issued notices to the civil and police authorities to file a compliance report regarding the earlier directions given in the case.In the case, the court has issued notices to three officers of Jammu — Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). It directed them to file the compliance report before May 30.The court had, on May 7, issued an interim order after hearing a writ petition and adjourned the case to May 21.“As ad interim, subject to objections and till the next date before the bench, the state authorities, herein respondents, shall ensure that notification number 2772/DCJ/LHS/GN-Ban/Army/01/2015-963/13 dated 07.08.2015 issued by the respondent number 3 is strictly implemented in accordance with the all provisions of laws/rules and no unlawful/impermissible activity in the area is permitted,” the court had said in its interim order.As the construction is reportedly going on in the area, the petitioner approached the court for initiating contempt proceedings against the respondents for wilfully violating/flouting the interim order.It was mentioned in the writ petition that Mamta Singh continued with the construction of her multi-storey bungalow near the Nagrota ammunition depot despite the Army objecting to it.Nirmal Singh, as Deputy Chief Minister, had received a strong letter from the Army Commander of the 16 Corps telling him to halt the construction on the plot since it was illegal and a security risk to the ammunition depot and to the personnel who lived there.