Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 26: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta today granted further four weeks time to Commissioner Secretary Housing & Urban Development Department, Commissioner Secretary Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, Commissioner of Food Safety and Standards, Chairman J&K State Pollution Control Board, Member Secretary PCB, Regional Director PCB, Jammu, Divisional Commissioner Jammu/ Kashmir, Director Animal Husbandry Department Jammu/ Kashmir and Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu/ Kashmir for filing response to the Public Interest Litigation seeking closure of unregistered slaughter houses and meat shops.
The PIL has been filed by an NGO SAVE (Save Animal Value Environment) through its Chairperson Devinder Kour Madaan alias Rumpy Madaan.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG H A Siddiqui appearing for the State Government and Advocate Sachin Gupta appearing for Jammu Municipal Corporation, the Division Bench expressed its anguish/ displeasure over the conduct of Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation who opted not to respond to the PIL despite service of notice and moreover nobody appeared on his behalf.
Division Bench while reprimanding the Commissioner SMC observed that he may also file response to the PIL failing which appropriate action shall be taken against him. The Division Bench also directed Advocate Sachin Gupta appearing for JMC to file action plan along with the response within four weeks from today.
When the PIL came up for hearing, Advocate S S Ahmed submitted that despite the expiry of three months, there is no response from the JMC, SMC, PCB, Divisional Commissioners and slaughter houses in various districts/tehsil headquarters are running without the requisite licenses/permissions from the appropriate authorities.
He further submitted that the slaughter houses functioning in Jammu/Srinagar cities lack the modern infrastructure and are located in densely populated residential areas in contravention of the norms/guidelines laid down by the Apex Court.
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