Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: The State High Court today directed the authorities to ensure that the ATMs and Bank branches in Kashmir are functional and medical shops are open so that the people may not face any difficulties during curfew and shutdowns.
The Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice M H Attar directed the Bank authorities to ensure functioning of all the ATMs and the branches in the Valley.
The court was informed that out of 589 ATMs of J&K Bank, 431 are operational. “The Law Officer of Jammu & Kashmir Bank appeared and filed a status report stating that out of 589 ATMs, 431 ATMs were functional as on 21-07-2016 and with regard to non-functioning of remaining ATMs, it is stated that the Bank has been making use of leased lines provided by BSNL, VSAT by Airtel and 3G services provided by Reliance and due to blockage of Airtel and Reliance services, ATMs operationalized through said service providers are not functioning. It is stated that as soon as the mobile services are restored, the non-functional ATMs will also become functional”, the order reads.
The J&K Bank informed the court that police does not allow the movement of their staff. “It is also mentioned that police does not allow staff of the Bank to move out for going to their respective offices and at many places people do not allow them to open the branches’, reads the order.
“It is also ordered that the Advocate General may write to the Regional Managers/ concerned officers of State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and other Banks for ensuring operation of the ATMs as well their Branches in the Valley so as to enable the public to take money for their day to day expenses. The Jammu & Kashmir Bank is also directed to file a status report regarding functioning of the ATMs and Branches by 26th July, 2016”, reads the court order.
The court directed the law enforcing agencies not to force closure of any medical shop and wherever necessary protection be provided for selling of the medicines as the State cannot allow people to suffer for want of medicine.
“During the hearing of the matter, it is also brought to the notice for this court that law enforcing agencies are not allowing the medical shops to open and sell medicines”, reads the court order.
The court further said: “The Advocate General also submitted that cancer patients will be supplied with medicine as directed earlier and in this regard we will submit a report on the next date of hearing.”
The CAPD in its status report said that out of 400 ration depots in Srinagar district, 255 Depots have already distributed about 19381 quintals of rice. The department also assured that in the remaining depots ration items will be distributed shortly.
“In so far as LPG distribution in the valley is concerned, during the month of July, 2016, 62,841 LPG cylinders have been distributed to the consumer up to 21-07-2016 and 2, 37370 LPG cylinders are available with the gas agencies and said stocks are sufficient for 18 days and the gas companies have further informed that in order to smoothen the delivery of LPG in the valley credit facilities have been extended to dealers as RTGS system of payment is affected due to current situation”, reads the court order.
The court order reads: “It is further stated that Principal, GMC, Srinagar, has stated that an expert team of retina surgeons of SMHS Hospital was evaluating the requirements, both equipment and human resources to conduct the surgeries of the injured and the hospital will take up the matter with Government and apprise about the requirement.”
The court also directed the Director, Health Services Kashmir, as well as Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, to ensure timely treatment to the patients who are to treated for getting vision in their eyes.
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