Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 9: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today took strong note of wrong status report filed by Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama and issued show cause notice asking him why shouldn’t court proceed against him for interfering with the judicial process.
In a Public Interest Litigation regarding stopping of illegal stone quarrying in Forest demarcated areas and on State land, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court sought explanation from the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama for filing wrong status report before the court in respect of Pulwama District.
The Division Bench Comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi directed the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to explain his position for filling wrong status report before the court.
“Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama should explain his position by filing affidavit as to how and in which manner he had filed status report, which has turned out to be wrong”, directed the Bench.
Court also asked him to show cause as to why he should not be proceeded against for ‘willfully and deliberately’ interfering with the process of the court.
These directions against the DC were passed after the court was apprised through status report filed by Industries and Commerce Department where in it has been stated that there are 980 Stone Quarries still operational in District Pulwama.
While as the said DC in his status report had taken a stand that all stone quarries operational in Kahcharai and Shamilaat land in the District have been closed down and made non functional.
“This report of the DC Pulwama, prima facie, appears to be false”, observed the bench in its order.
For this willful and deliberate act by the DC, court directed the registry to send separate summons to him for filing his response within week.”Registry to serve separate notice to the said DC through Commissioner Secretary to Government, Administration Department and response to be filed within one week from the date notice is received by the said DC”, reads the court order.
Court further sought status report within two weeks with regard to rehabilitation of those stone quarrying owners whose quarries have been closed down in terms of court direction as they were found operational in forest demarcated areas and State land.
“The District Level Committees, to expedite the process constituted for identifying the alternate sites for allotment of land to the affected persons for installing quarries there,” says the court order.
With great reluctance, as the consolidated report was not filed by the State respondents as directed, court granted two weeks to State respondents with regard to filing of consolidated report of all status reports filed by the revenue authorities of each and every District in the instant PIL.
Court in its earlier direction had directed the State respondents to file a consolidated report so that effective orders to be passed by this court.
Follow our WhatsApp channel