Srinagar: The High Court has granted four weeks to the Jammu and Kashmir government to file its response in a PIL that sought saving of Ladakh’s environment, ecology, and land from encroachers and resolve the boundary dispute between district Kargil in Ladakh and district Ganderbal in Kashmir.
The court had in July received a letter under Ref No 122-24/LAHDC/Kgl dated July 1, 2024, from Abdul Wahid, Councillor, Bhimbet Constituency, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, addressed to the to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The letter, titled ‘Save Ladakh’s environment, ecology, and land from encroachers and resolve the boundary dispute between district Kargil of Ladakh and district Ganderbal of J&K’ had been treated as PIL by the High Court and sought a response from the government.
Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Rajesh Sekhri while taking up the PIL today observed “the response has not been filed”.
Faheem Nissar Shah, the government advocate (GA), appearing for the respondents sought and was granted four weeks further time to file response.
In order to assist the court, the judges ordered “M I Qadri, Senior Advocate, is hereby appointed as amicus curiae. The Registry is directed to provide a complete paper book to learned amicus curiae during the course of the week”.
The court has already issued notice to Ladakh UT’s Chief Secretary, its Principal Secretary to the Forest Department, and the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) besides Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kargil, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, and Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal.
Advocate Rehana Qayoom appearing vice Deputy Solicitor General (DSGI) T M Shamsi, had accepted notice on behalf of Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Forest Department and Additional Director General of Police, Ladakh, besides Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, while government advocate Illyas Nazir Laway, accepted it on behalf of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and DC Ganderbal.
It is mentionable that in the letter deep concern had been expressed over the safety of the environment and ecology of Ladakh.
It stated that the residents of district Ganderbal have encroached upon the land of Ladakh under the garb that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had divided the snow area land into equal proportions and this action on the part of the inhabitants of Ganderbal had endangered the flora and fauna of the Ladakh region which was being a threat to the environment and ecology of the region.
It also said that the traffic movement and allied rules governing the subject were being applied to impede only Ladakh people who were made to suffer from various aspects whereas the tourist vehicles as well as heavy vehicles without any restrictions were being allowed to move throughout the year.
