Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice B S Walia today took cognizance of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by SAVE (Save Animal Value Environment), an NGO working for welfare of animals through its Chairperson Devinder Kaur Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan, seeking immediate closure of 59 un-registered dairies running within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina, Suraj Singh and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the PIL, Division Bench issued notices to Commissioner Secretaries of Health and Medical Education, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Housing and Urban Development Departments, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Director Animal Husbandry Department Jammu, Chairman J&K State Pollution Control Board, Regional Director J&K State Pollution Control Board Jammu, Municipal Veterinary Officer Municipal Corporation Jammu, Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India New Delhi returnable within four weeks.
Government Advocate Ahtsham Hussain Bhat accepted notices on behalf of Chairman J&K State Pollution Control Board and Regional Director J&K State Pollution Control Board Jammu. All the respondents were directed to file their response within four weeks.
Earlier, Advocate Ahmed drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the information divulged by Public Information Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation vide his No.VPHS/MVO/331 dated 19-12-2014 read with communication No.JMC/S/RTI/4758 dated 21-01-2015 wherein it was disclosed that there are 57 registered dairies and 59 un-registered dairies situated in JMC limits.
He further submitted that till date 59 un-registered dairies are still working within the limits of JMC and the condition of the existing 57 registered dairies is also terrible as most of them are located in densely populated residential areas and the dung disposal goes into the public drains leading to infections/ environmental pollution and the officers of the JMC are totally unmoved over the rampant violations being committed by the owners of these dairies.
Advocate Ahmed further pointed out that even the registered 57 milk dairies are also functioning without the proper infrastructure and the Veterinary Division of JMC is not taking serious steps to enforce its orders/norms/guidelines circulated vide public notice No.DIP/J-1494-P dated 10-02-2016.
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