HC gives 4 weeks to Govt for sanctioning funds to torched schools

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 10: The High Court today gave four weeks to Government for sanctioning of funds for the schools that were torched in last year’s unrest so that the process of construction is taken up.
The Court observed that the Government has taken up the step only after the court has passed the direction for rebuilding those schools, which have been torched during the unrest.
The State Counsel informed the court that these DPRs are pending with Planning Department and they would be later forwarded to Finance Department for sanctioning of the expenditure.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the Planning and Monitoring department to complete the process of DPRs with two weeks and there after the entire process should be completed within a period of four weeks.
Court has also perused the photographs submitted by the State Counsel along with status report with regard to those schools and buildings in which the children whose schools have been burnt and torched, have been accommodated.
Court after going through these photographs said, these pictures depict that there is lack of facility in the accommodated schools and buildings as no seating arrangement is available and children put their note books on their bags to write down their work. Court directed the authorities to file the status report indicating therein as to what kind of facilities are required as also what is being complied with under rules.
Court has sought status report regarding the condition of those schools which are being run under district plan. Court also observed that it is not the fault of children that their schools have been burnt down; they have to be provided with proper accommodation till their schools are rebuilt.
These observations have been passed by Chief Justice and Justice Magrey in a suo-moto cognizance taken by the Court last year about the burning of schools.
The suo-moto cognizance was taken by the then Chief Justice of the State after various news reports regarding the torching of educational institutions in the Valley.
With regard to progress of investigation of FIRs against those persons who are involved in damaging the educational institutions, court directed the police authorities to expedite the investigation which are pending in most of the cases, so that, court recorded, the perpetrators can be brought to book.
It may be mentioned here that Police has registered case against the miscreants for commission of offence and in this regard 33 accused have been arrested and are being dealt in accordance with law.
Out of 33 accused arrested, Dossiers against 14 have been submitted to concerned District Magistrates for issuance of detention warrants under PSA. Nine warrants have been received out of which 6 detention warrants have been executed till date.
About 34 educational institutions were damaged partially and fully by the miscreants during the turmoil in different districts across the Valley and for speedy disposal, as well arrest of miscreants/accused involved in the commission of offences. Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have already been constituted by the SSPs, which are being monitored by the range of DIGs.

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