Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey today stayed the SRO No.198 of April 2013 whereby the jurisdiction of Municipal Committee Katra was extended for management of entire track of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine from Darshani Deodi Katra to Holy Cave.
The stay was granted in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by SOS International through its Chairman Rajiv Chuni.
After hearing Advocate Abhinav Sharma for the PIL whereas Senior Advocates DC Raina, RK Gupta with Advocates Rohit Kohli and Prem Sadotra for the respondents, DB observed, “keeping in view the totality of facts and circumstances and the detailed reply filed by the Shrine Board highlighting the facilities being provided to the pilgrims, it becomes imperative to stay the operation of SRO 198 so far it relates to management of track vis-à-vis the ponies/pithoos and palkies right from Darshani Deodi Katra upto the Holy Cave which is already under the management of the Shrine Board”,
However, the DB deferred the consideration of the other aspects of the matter as highlighted in the PIL to the next date of hearing.
In the PIL, it has been alleged that Municipal Committee Katra was collecting the fee/ tax not only within its jurisdiction but also had opened booths outside its limit and collected crores of rupees and the amount so collected was being allegedly swindled and not being utilized for the purpose mentioned in the Municipal Act.
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