Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 18: The Division Bench of High Court today granted last and final opportunity of three weeks to Central and State Governments for filing of response on whether any rules have been framed under Section 13 of the Maneuvers Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act 1938 for rehabilitation and other benefits for the affected families of Tosa-Maidan artillery field.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmed and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the authorities to file the response with three weeks which shall be last and final opportunity.
“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir issued a preliminary list of people, who have died due to artillery firing in the area from 1974 – 2014. Another list was also prepared by the Government in which number of injured and dead people was also mentioned.
It may be mentioned here that the actual number of deaths and disability caused by the artillery firing in the area is yet to be ascertained. However, no compensation or relief has so far been granted to the people who have already been identified”, read the PIL.
Union Counsel Tahir Shamsi (ASGI) pressed for more time but the Court said to him that ample time has been given and “you have to answer the contentions of the petition.”
On behalf of Central Government, Defence Ministry and Home Ministry has to file the response and on behalf of State, Chief Secretary to Home Department, Civil Secretariat, Director Social Welfare Srinagar; Chief Conservator forests, Budgam; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; and Deputy Commissioner Budgam have to file response to the contentions raised in the PIL.
Petitioner Lubna approached the court by way of instant PIL for the protection of the rights of the thousands of residents of Shunglipora and adjacent villages of Tosa Maidan, District Budgam as she stated that the rights of the people have been violated and the respondents have failed to do their lawful duty in order to protect the life, liberty and dignity of citizens. Moreover, she added that the environment, wildlife, water resources, flora and fauna and the natural environment of the area has been devastated putting the life and liberty of thousands of people at risk.
The petitioner Lubna sought indulgence of this Court for the people who have been rendered handicapped, people who have suffered psychologically and most of them are the people who cannot protect and defend their rights.
“The other things that have affected due to the illegal artillery shelling and military exercise include the natural environment of the area, the forests, the wildlife, the flora and fauna, the water resources for the entire region”, she submitted.
It is mentioned in the PIL that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir authorized the execution of military maneuvers over the area of Tosa Maidan (Budgam) in the year 1965. Due to the field firing and artillery practice carried out by Army from 1965 to 2014 in and around Tosa Maidan, innocent people have lost their lives or were left maimed. Besides thousands of cattle including sheep, cows, goats, horses have died during this period. Property worth millions was ruined. The firing has also caused great loss to the environment, water channels and sources, ecology, forests and the area suffered great loss.
“That the authorities are bound to follow the mandate of law while conducting any military exercise, field firing or artillery practice in any given area. The entire process is governed by the maneuvers field firing and artillery practice act 1938,” read the PIL.
However, the petitioner submitted that in blatant violations of the law the entire region was used for military exercises for a period of almost 50 years and all kinds of weapons and artillery were used in the area putting at risk the entire region its ecology and the lives of thousands of residents and number of people have lost their lives and numerous people have received serious injuries causing temporary or permanent disablement due to scattered live shells left after the artillery firing.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Govt. vide order dated 24.01.2017 has declared Tosa Maidan as a tourist destination and created a separate development authority for the area. That the entire area used for artillery shelling and military exercises falls just within 3 kilometers from Pehjan Wildlife Reserve and as per Supreme Court of India, guidelines in the areas should have long been notified as eco sensitive zone.
“Although the Financial Commissioner Revenue vide its letter no DMB/JC/2012/903-10 dated 27-12-2012, instructed learned District Commissioner Budgam to take immediate steps to implement the guidelines of the Supreme Court, however, no further steps were taken by the authorities”, the PIL mentioned.
The petitioner submitted that the area although having been vacated by army and mostly cleared but so far army has not issued clearance certificate and no action in order to preserve and converse the area after army has handed over it to the civilian authority has been taken over. The entire region needs immediate attention in order to preserve the forests and natural water bodies.
The State Government, petitioner submitted, is bound by Constitution and the laws made there under to protect the life, liberty and economic interests of the people living in and around Tosa-Maidan.
That the respondent authorities despite being bound by the law to compensate the victims for the loss caused due to artillery shelling and military exercise have miserably failed to protect the lives of the people living in the area or paying them adequate compensation for the losses suffered. It is apt mention here that State authorities are yet to decide about the grant of compensation in favour of the victims. The respondent officials are thus compromising with the lives of people living in the area and are therefore violating the basic fundamental rights, life and liberty of the people living in the area.
Petitioner sought directions from the court that the Respondents should conduct a detailed survey of the Tosa Maidan area to assess the loss and damage caused to human beings and the environment of the entire area due to artillery and other military exercises and to furnish compliance report before this court within stipulated time to pay ‘individual compensation’ to the families of deceased and injured persons, owners of livestock and ‘Community Compensation’ besides compensating the lost already estimated with immediate effect.
Petitioner also sought directions from the court to the Government of J&K to provide/frame the guidelines for firing ranges in accordance with the provisions contained in the maneuvers field firing and artillery practice act 1938.
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