SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 29: Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal, today teed off a day-long golf tournament here at Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC).
Organized by Jammu and Kashmir High Court, ‘Legal Eagles Golf Tournament’ witnessed the participation of around 50 golfers which include 30 Lawyers, Judges and retired jurists from various states across the country, and 20 regular golfers from Kashmir’s legal fraternity. The event was co-sponsored by the J&K Tourism Department and J&K Bank.
The tournament, an annual affair, is being held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time.
While inaugurating the tournament, the Chief Justice said the event has been organized as a goodwill gesture that brings the jurists from different parts of the country at one platform with the true spirit for Golf.
She said the tournament is usually held outside the state and they brought it here to send a message across that Kashmir is absolutely safe for travellers and that any tournament could be held here.
“We have brought Delhi and Srinagar so close that they are walking hand in hand in true spirit of sports and goodwill. It is a union of legal experts and has brought women players together as well. We hope this tradition will continue for a long time,” she said.
She said many women judges participated in the tournament who would also invite other lady golfers to play here.
“We wanted lady golfers also to participate and they have turned up in good numbers here. This is also to promote golfing among the women,” Justice Mittal said.
She stressed that there is a huge potential in the youth towards sports that needs to be nourished while asserting that the participation of girls in sports in Kashmir can be the inspiration for the rest of the country.
The jurists from other states said there is a huge potential for Golf as well as tourism in Kashmir which needs to be promoted on a larger scale.
Managing Director, J&K Golf Development and Management Authority, Ghalib Mohi-ud-din said that the annual tournament is usually organized by Delhi High Court Bar Association in various states across the country. “But, for the first time, this year they have chosen Kashmir to play the tournament,” he added.
He said the initiative would give a fillip to the overall tourism activity in the State. “This event will not only promote golf but also sends a good signal across the country for the promotion of tourism,” he added.
Director Tourism, Kashmir, Tasaduq Jeelani said the state in itself was a golf circuit having many golf courses which needed to be promoted through such activities. PTI SSB IJT
Among others, Justice G.S Sistani, Justice Indermeet Kaur, Justice A.K Pathak, Justice TashiRabstan, Justice (Retd) Bashir Ahmad Khan, and other senior advocates of the HC participated in the event.
The RSGC is an 18-hole golf course with about an eight-and-a-half km long cart path and is spread over an area of 100 hectares of land having three lakes.
