Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Deepak Singh Balouria and others seeking implementation of provisions of the Essential Services (Maintenance) Ordinance in letter and spirit to ensure clean, hygienic and healthy environment, Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today directed the Jammu Municipal Corporation to make Service Tax Scheme compulsory.
After hearing Advocate Meenakshi Salathia for the PIL whereas AAG Seema Shekha for the State and Advocate SS Nanda for JMC, DB observed, “in response to the notice of motion, two status reports have been filed. In the status report filed by Jammu Municipal Corporation and its Health Officer, it has been pointed out that a comprehensive scheme for collection of garbage from door to door has been unfolded by the Corporation and every household is required to pay Rs 100 as Service Tax. However, the scheme was made optional and only meager 5% of the people came forward to adopt the scheme”.
“We fail to understand why a scheme which is aimed at achieving healthy and hygienic condition on the public route should be made optional”, the DB said and asked counsel for the respondents as to why such a scheme could not be made compulsory.
“Such a thinking has developed for the reason that throwing garbage and creating unhygienic condition is the source of various diseases which has cascading affect on the health of the residents”, the DB said, adding “in the larger public interest it is imperative to make such a scheme compulsory to ensure that every household puts its garbage outside the house which can be collected by the vehicle of the Municipal Corporation on periodical basis”.
“Another reason for making the scheme compulsory is that the State Government cannot run without revenue and such like services could be extended if corresponding fee is paid to the service provider”, the DB said and directed that the needful be done within two weeks.
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