Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: Hearing the PIL by Advocate A R Hanjura, a Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Rashid Ali Dar constituted a committee comprising of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Sr. Adv AH Naik and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to cross check the work done progress, as claimed by the Corporation in their status report.
When the PIL came up for hearing, DB observed that petition, filed in public interest, revolves round the subject of menace of dog bites, particularly, those having rabies.
Division Bench observed that having gone through the contents of the status report so filed by the Corporation as also the series of orders passed by us in this case, coupled with the gravity of the issue involved, we are of the opinion that a mechanism needs to be evolved for having the work done progress, as claimed by the Corporation in their status report, cross checked by appointing a Committee of three officers.
Apart from the above, Division Bench also pass the following directions that in view of the submission of Naik, the learned Amicus Curiae, to the effect that the subject of the instant PIL is not only concerning the city of Srinagar, but is also a cause of concern in the whole State of Jammu and Kashmir, we, extend the scope of this PIL, initially, to all the Municipalities existing in the Districts of Kashmir. The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, who is also a member of the committee constituted by the Bench hereinabove, shall ensure collection of reports from all the Heads of the Municipalities of the Districts of Kashmir and place the same before the committee so as to enable the committee to put forth their views and suggestions, accordingly; With regard to the submission of the learned Amicus Curiae that the authorities in the Corporation, in order to redress the growing dog menace in Srinagar City, are dumping the stray dogs in the peripheries of different areas of Kashmir, other than the Srinagar city, we direct the committee to express its comments and suggestions in this regard so that the citizens of such areas are also not put to any danger while ensuring safety of the citizens of Srinagar city.
DB further directed all the officers concerned, be those belonging to the Municipalities of the Districts of Kashmir or those of the Corporation, shall cooperate with the committee as and when required and the committee shall also put forth its comments and suggestions as regards all the issues highlighted by the Corporation in its status report filed in compliance of order of this Court dated 29th of May, 2019.
DB further directed Corporation to respond to the creation of dog pounds for housing the stray dogs, as suggested by this Court in terms of the earlier directions.
—JNF |
