Srinagar March 15 (KNS) : The villagers of Brenwar in central Kashmir’s Budgam feel relaxed as their three months old struggle has borne fruit. The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recently directed the Government to consider holding a fresh election within 4 weeks for electing a new Lumberdar (Numberdar) in the village. The High Court bench of  Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal in an order issued on March 6^th has directed the Government through  Secretary Revenue , Divisional Commissioner Kashmir ,Deputy Commissioner Budgam  and Tehsildar Chadoora to consider holding elections for the Numberdar in Brenwar village in four weeks from the date of issuance of the order. 

“ Respondents are directed to accord consideration to the representation alleged to have been filed by the petitioners for holding election for the post of Lumberdar  in terms of Lambardari Act and rules framed thereunder within a period of 4 weeks. The consideration order which is likely to be passed be placed on record while filing the response” reads the High Court order

The residents of Brenwar  Chadoora in central Budgam district had held several protests during the last several months against the Numberdar of their village namely Saifudin Jahara alias Saifa  Mugdam who has been holding the post for the last around 30 years. The locals have been alleging that the said numberdar has crossed the upper age limit of 60 yrs and had lost  the trust of the people in view of his corrupt actions. The villagers had held protests not only in the village but in Press Colony Srinagar as well on several occasions, but the locals told KNS that Govt officers didn’t act at all in spite of assurances.

“We were forced to move to the High Court . We welcome the decision of the court and hope that DC Budgam will hold fresh elections within the stipulated time of four weeks from the date of issuance of the order (March 6^th 2023). We are being harassed on a daily basis by the Numberdar whose son in order to save his skin has joined the BJP. The Numberdar and his son are trying to harass local Govt employees to build pressure on villagers. We BJP leadership understand the evil designs of these people. They have switched their loyalties to almost four political parties in the last 30 years. They were with Congress in 1980’s , then joined National Conference in 1990’s and when PDP came to power in 2003 , they joined PDP , then went with Peoples Conference and now joined BJP. The brother of Numberdar Nazir Ahmad Jahara  is a DDC member from the National Conference as well. Their sole motive is to harass people and hide their misdeeds. The judiciary has come to our rescue finally. We hope the order will be implemented in letter and spirit “ said a local resident  Ghulam Qadir while talking to KNS

While appearing for the petitioners  Advocate M Ashraf Wani raised the issue of SRO 412 dated 29th September 2017, wherein  government had reduced the age limit of Numberdar to 25 years and maximum limit to 60 years. The counsel for the Petitioners Advocate Ashraf Wani  in the  petition filed before High Court said the Numberdar Saifudin Jahara was above 60 years and was not eligible to continue. In addition to it he had also appended at least 400 signatures of locals who had demanded sacking of the Numberdar. (KNS)