Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 9: The High Court today rapped the Government for delaying finalization of Master Plan for famous tourist resort Gulmarg and directed its finalization by next date.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Sanjeev Kumar while rapping the authorities with regard to finalization of Master Plan for Gulmarg, directed the Principal Secretary to Government Tourism department to ensure that the Master Plan is finalized with the assistance of consultants within or outside the State, which would be choice of the Government and report the court by or before next date.
Amicus to the PIL has invited attention of the Court to various orders passed by the Court and submitted that the respondents at every hearing seek time for the same as such their approach towards court directions is totally unacceptable.
Court disapproved the conduct on part of the officer of Gulmarg Development Authority as such passed direction to Principal Secretary of Tourism.
The Chief Town Planner was present before the bench and requested the Court that Government be asked to enhance the staff so that the MP is prepared well within time.
During the course of case, Acting CJ observed to CTP as also to State counsel that the resort should be maintained on scientific planning as is done outside the State.
Court also directed the Chief Executive Officer of GDA to submit his status report on removal of encroachments on State land on next date of hearing.
Court while passing today’s order recorded that Government is playing with Court orders and delaying the finalization MP of Gulmarg.
Further attention of Court was drawn to the order passed by division bench on February 27 whereby authorities were directed that if any positive decision is not taken and status report not filed on the next date, the Bench will be constrained to call for personal appearance of all the concerned who have delayed the process.
It is way back five years, the direction by the Court was issued regarding preparation and finalization of Master Plan and till date the same is pending with the authorities on one pretext or another.
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