Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by retired IGP-turned-politician Farooq Khan seeking direction to the State to provide adequate medicare, food and lodging to the persons displaced due to Pakistan firing, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Tashi Rabstan today issued various directions to Chief Secretary, Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Ankesh Chandel appearing for the PIL, DB observed, “the PIL depicts pathetic condition of all those, who have fallen prey at the hands of Pakistani Rangers and Army, who have resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian pickets and civil areas at International Border resulting into loss of civilian lives, livestock and destruction of crops etc”.
“It has been brought to the notice of the court that because of firing, two persons of a family out of which one boy aged 12 years and his father have been killed, whereas the mother and three others are seriously injured and under treatment”, the DB said, adding “there are many other persons also, who have been injured in this firing”.
“The victims of the firing have been moved to safer places and lodged in Government buildings mainly in various Government Schools, but they are not being attended to properly as basic amenities like food, medical care facility, bedding etc are not reaching out to them”, the DB observed.
Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi submitted that because of the firing, properties of the border belt people have been badly damaged and large number of persons have to vacate their houses. “All such persons cannot go back to their houses because of their meager resources and this aspect also requires immediate attention of the court”, he said.
He further submitted that major damage has also been caused to livestock of the border belt people as the livestock is kept in open during summer season and on account of indiscriminate firing, a large number of animals have been injured seriously and physically disabled due to loss of limbs.
“Veterinary help is required at the end of the Government without any waste of time as there is apprehension of breaking down of epidemic in all those areas as such directions are required to be issued to the respondents at this stage itself”, Advocate Sethi said.
On this, Division Bench issued notices to Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Home Department, Secretary Health and Medical Education, Secretary Social Welfare Department and Secretary Animal Husbandry Department. The notices were accepted by Senior AAG Gagan Basotra.
While issuing notices, Division Bench directed Director Health Services Jammu to provide medical care to firing victims without any waste of time. The Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba were directed to provide proper food and lodging to the firing victims.
“Deputy Commissioners of these two districts may associate their respective District Red Cross Societies”, said the DB, adding “they shall also take care of the properties left by the firing victims”.
Division Bench also directed Director Sheep Husbandry to provide medical care and treatment to livestock and remove bodies of animals immediately. Moreover, Chief Secretary was directed to constitute a team headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu to visit the spot and prepare the status report and action taken thereon, which will be cross checked by Chief Secretary himself.
‘A complete status report shall be placed before the court well before the next date of hearing with a copy in advance to the Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi enabling him to put forth his further suggestions to achieve the cause projected herein”, the DB said.
“There are certain other aspects also as highlighted in the instant petition requiring our attention, but we defer consideration on those aspects at this stage”, the DB said.
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