Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 19: State High Court has ordered status quo on the proposed and sanctioned establishment of National Institute of Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah in the Chenab Valley.
The order was passed in a petition filed by MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta and others, who alleged that a move has been initiated by the present dispensation at Centre to shift the Institute from Bhaderwah to some other parts of the country.
The National Institute of Medicinal Plants was sanctioned for Bhaderwah by the then Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is presently Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. It was submitted before the High Court that after change of Government at Centre, steps have been initiated to shift the Institute to some other parts of the country.
After hearing counsel for the petitioners, Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir ordered status quo vis-à-vis proposed and sanctioned establishment of National Institute of Medical Plants at Bhaderwah in Chenab Valley. High Court has also issued notices to Secretary, Department of Ayurveda, Government of India, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Revenue Department and Commissioner Secretary to Government, Health Department, J&K.
It is pertinent to mention here that Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad has already written to Prime Minister and Union Health Minister voicing concern over move to shift National Institute of Medicinal Plants from Bhaderwah.
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