Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has asked the authorities concerning the upkeep of public parks to file status report indicating follow-up action taken pursuant to the directions of Divisional Commissioner.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Justices Sanjay Dhar and M A Chowdhary directed the authorities to file status report indicating the follow-up action that has been taken pursuant to the directions by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on the matter.
The bench also directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to file status report on the next date of hearing in terms an order of the court order passed in September 2022.
Pertinently the court had earlier directed the Divisional Commissioners of both the divisions of Kashmir and Jammu to revisit the matter regarding upkeep of the public parks in Jammu and Kashmir and submit their ‘independent’ status reports within two months.
Pursuant to the order a status report was filed on behalf of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir. As per the status report, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has directed “all the concerned departments shall submit the status report to his office for its onward submission before the High Court”.
The Divisional Commissioner, according to the report, gave the Directorate of Floriculture, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Development Authority directions for submitting the requisite report before the court directly after proper vetting by his office.
The Commissioner directed “all the stakeholders/departments to submit the physical and financial progress of the parks for the financial year 2022-23 under their possession/maintenance within a weeks’ time,” the report said.
That the concerned departments shall erect ramps on the entry points of all the parks so as to ensure an easy access for the specially-abled persons, the Commissioner has directed further.
The Commissioner has also directed the respondents that the Committee constituted by the government under the chairmanship of Director Floriculture to conduct the meeting periodically and submit quarterly ATR to the authorities within time as well
By virtue of a previous order the court required the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir to hold quarterly meetings of all the authorities responsible for developing and maintaining various parks including heritage gardens so as to coordinate their working.
In addition to it, the court said, certain directions were also issued such as banning the use of plastic and construction in the park. The Divisional Commissioners were directed to submit periodical reports with regard to the progress of on the matter.
