Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 30: High Court closed the PIL regarding compensation to the victim families of formerly artillery firing range Tosamaidan as the authorities have informed the court that the recommendations have been forwarded to the Defence Ministry.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal closed the PIL after both the UT Government and Union Government informed the court with regard to the compensation process for the victim families.
The Home Department on behalf of the UT Government stated before the court that the concerned Deputy Commissioner approached it and sought guidance and instructions with regard to sanction of relief to the victims of the Field Firing Range (FFR) Tosamaidan which took place between 1985 to 2013.
As per the Home Department in order to expedite the process regarding payment of cash compensation in favour of the victims of FFR Tosamaidan, meeting was convened in June last year under the chairmanship of principal Secretary Home with the Commissioner Secretaries of GAD, Law and Deputy Commissioner Budgam and accordingly it was decided to approach the Defence Ministry for acceptance of the proposal of compensation to be paid from the Defence Ministry.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in response requested the J&K Government to provide correct inputs with respect to civilian casualties and injuries due to firing and also to provide necessary assistance to conduct a joint survey for time bound implementation of court orders.
The DC Budgam after joint verification with his subordinate officials of the area submitted the verified list of deceased and injured persons in which 44 death cases were verified against earlier cases projected claim of 55 deaths. In respect of 48 injured cases projected earlier only 44 cases were verified in the joint verification and forwarded to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for further course of action.
The counsel representing MoD with reference to the supplementary affidavit dated 5th June, 2025 filed by the Secretary Ministry of defence , submitted that the proceedings of the re-constituted Board of Officers have since been concluded and the recommendations in this regard along with the complete set of proceedings have been forwarded to the Ministry of Defence on June 3rd 2025 for consideration.
In terms of the stand set out by the respondents, the proceedings in the present case are closed. The petition is accordingly disposed of. However, in the event, any cause of action still survives, the petitioner shall be at liberty to approach this Court by way of filing an appropriate application”, DB concluded.
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