JUDGMENT :

Sanjeev, J.

1. The petitioner claims to be the Mahant of Shri Bajrang Dev Baba Dharam Dass Temple, Sathu Barbar Shah (temple property) and is seeking a direction on the respondents to pay compensation of the land taken over by the State without following the mandate of law contained in J&K Land Acquisition Act.

2. The petitioner submits that the Shri Bajrang Dev Baba Dharam Dass Temple is owner of landed property measuring 60 kanals and 07 marlas situated at Estate Habbakadal (Chinar Bagh, Srinagar) in various survey numbers, which property has been taken over by the respondents for development of recreational park without payment of compensation. It is submitted that with a view to claiming compensation of the property forcibly taken over by the respondents, a writ petition being OWP No.221/1994 came to be filed by Baba Mahant Ram Kankar Dass, Sole Trustee of the Temple properties, which was disposed of by a Single Bench of this Court vide order dated 29.06.1998 directing the respondents- State to treat the writ petition as representation and if it is found that the land described in the writ petition has been used by the State for public purpose then requisite steps be ta