Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 8: High Court has clarified that it has not prohibited the plying of Sumo Taxis from Taxi Stand situated in Lal Chowk of Srinagar city and sought clarification from the authorities in this regard.
The Tourist Taxi Stand No. 2 situated in Lal Chowk through its president has moved an application for clarification of the order passed by the court in 2017.
It has been contended by the Taxi Stand Association before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal that the SSP, Traffic or the officers of the Traffic Department are visiting the Taxi Stand and are directing the Association to close down the Taxi Stand whereas there is no such direction from the court.
Advocate Insha Rashid has caused her appearance before the bench and has prayed for some time to inform the court about the actual facts. “Two weeks’ time to seek instructions and file response to the application. Ateeb Kanth, Amicus Curiae may also submit his opinion in response to the above application within the aforesaid time. The order dated 29.11.2017 is clear and does not anywhere prohibit the running of the Taxi Stand”, DB recorded.
It was directed in the order of 2017 that Commissioner Transport, Inspector General of Police, Traffic, SSP Traffic Srinagar, RTO Kashmir and all ARTOs of Kashmir division to ensure plying of Tata Sumos / Taveras / taxi cabs, etc. only through permissible routes and ensure that the vehicles are color coded .
Court had said that this is required to ensure that the vehicles coming through impermissible routes are immediately identified by the traffic regulatory authority including the traffic Magistrates of the areas and same are seized and the stringent measures are required to be taken in hand to see that the penalty serves as a deterrent for not only the erring vehicle owners but to the rest of the lot also.
It was suggested by the SSP, Traffic, and Srinagar that no vehicle shall be allowed to cross the Parimpora Bus Stand point from the north and north east areas and the Pantha Chowk point from the south and south east areas and there was no direction of prohibition of operating the Taxi Stand No. 2 from Lal Chowk.
It was idea put forth by SSP in order to ensure that the city of Srinagar is decongested of the traffic mess but the court in its order of 2017 to which the Association is seeking clarification had directed the traffic authorities to ensure a smooth entry of the commuters from the said block points by providing a hassle free and time bound transport facility at the said junctions.
In order to ensure compliance of all these directions passed from time to time had put the responsibility of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to coordinate with all the concerned departments / authorities in this behalf.
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