DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Aug 1
The Citizen Forum of the Jammu East constituency has reignited the movement to grant ownership rights to the custodian tenants. Leading this initiative, Anu Rajesh Gupta and her team met with the Rajinder Bazar Association, as the majority of shopkeepers there are allottees of the Custodian Department. She was accompanied by Karan Singh, Kuldeep Kandhari, Brijesh Gupta, Manav Mahajan, Varun Khajuria, Rohit Sharma, Chaman Lal, Jialal, Tejram Choudhary, Shashipal, Vaneet Gupta, and Ram Lubhaya.
The movement was relaunched from Rajinder Bazar Association in the presence of the Association’s chairman, Krishan Lal Gupta, president Arjun Gupta, general secretary Amit Gupta, Raman Gandotra, and Balraj Gupta. The team collected a letter from the organization addressed to our Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, highlighting the issue of custodian property holders.
While speaking to the Association and the media, Anu Rajesh Gupta urged the Association to support the cause of the evacuee property tenants. She emphasized that these tenants have been living in deplorable conditions for the last 77 years and that the habitable state of these properties is solely due to the efforts of the tenants, now in their fourth generation.
Karan Singh noted that even our heritage buildings have fallen into disrepair, with no one to care for them. However, custodian properties remain in good condition thanks to these tenants. Kuldeep Kandhari pointed out the difficulties faced by custodian department tenants, who must seek permission from concerned offices for repairs and maintenance, often receiving inadequate responses. Brijesh Gupta highlighted the unjust practice of the department charging a premium to tenants who build two rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom at their own expense.
Chairman Krishan Lal Gupta demanded that evacuee property tenants be granted ownership rights or, alternatively, a 90-year lease, as these people have endured an uncertain future for far too long.
Arjun Gupta, President of the Association, pledged full support to the Jammu East Constituency Citizen Forum for this cause, stating that they always stand for good causes and demand immediate ownership rights for custodian tenants.
