Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 14: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today sought status report from the Government with regard to rehabilitation of stone quarrying operators and notifying of draft rules.
Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice N P Vasantha Kumar and Justice D S Thakur in a PIL regarding ban on stone quarrying in and around forest land directed the authorities to file the latest status report as to how those persons who are affected by stopping of stone quarries are rehabilitated.
Court also sought status with regard to notifying of Draft Rules by the Financial Commissioner Department of Industries and Commerce before the next date of the matter.
Petitioner counsel during the hearing submitted that the issues involved in the PIL are lingering on, on one pretext or other despite the authorities having got breathing time but they have shown no serious response in context of the court orders.
He further submitted before the court that no information has been given to the court as to whether the court orders have been implemented or not. Referring to earlier directions passed by the court, petitioner said that in the month of December last year court had passed a detailed order but no implementation on ground level with these directions.
Authorities in its earlier report had submitted that the steps were being taken for re-submitting the Draft Rules to the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce for his approval ‘but what steps have been taken thereafter’ is not brought to the notice of the court, said the petitioner.
Court earlier had directed for decision for rehabilitation of Stone quarrying operators keeping in view of the fact that scores of persons have been rendered jobless and had also directed for notifying of Draft Rules but no progress till date from the authorities about these issues.
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