Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 30: The High Court today sought personal appearance of Commissioner/Secretary Social Welfare Department in case amendment to the Form-I and clearance of pending application of beneficiaries, who are poor girls, is not done by next date.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation on the issues of welfare and providing financial assistance to the poor girls as also amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Court directed the Commissioner/Secretary of Social Welfare Department to modify the Para-8 in Form-I scheme so as to provide financial assistance for marriage to the poor and destitute girls without any delay and complex formalities.
Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Sanjeev Kumar also directed that the pending cases of these girls be cleared by next date.
Amicus to the PIL B A Bashir submitted before the Court that as per the data of authorities,1564 cases are pending before the authorities and the reason is shortage of funds. He submitted before the court if any of the girls among them is married during their pendency of cases for providing financial assistance then what is the fun of these schemes.
He submitted before the court that bring the Secretary SWD here and he will answer all these queries. SWD counsel Hashim Hussain requested the court that some time be granted to him and directions of the court be implemented in letter and spirit.
Court has also impressed upon the SWD to inform it as to what time it takes from receiving the application of any beneficiary and thereafter granting her assistance.
Commissioner/Secretary SWD so far as the modification of Form-I is concerned, submitted that the guidelines are proposed to be amended as per the court directions and after its modification its approval as well as the updated scheme of SMAS shall be given wide publicity. He, in his report, also submitted that 4114 cases has been sanctioned till ending March this year and during the current financial year 1158 cases stand sanctioned, making the total sanctioned strength as
5272 under SMAS scheme up to August 21.
Court in order to seek the implementation of “HUNNAR and SMAS” schemes and court directions passed from time to time, sought status of from District Bandipora and District Srinagar in the first instance as sample.
Court during the proceeding of the matter rapped the counsel representing SWD for this lengthy procedure and observed to him that your officials are not doing their job as they are supposed to do. “You are hiding something from the court. We want implementation of these schemes.
Authorities after identifying the poor girls under the scheme (SMAS) and court directions are duty bound to provide them an amount of Rs. 25000 each and 5 gms of gold for their living a dignified life.”
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