Srinagar: The J&K Union Territory administration has informed the High Court about its intent to reconsider the “8th class pass condition” for poor girls to avail assistance under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS).
The court was informed about the assertion in a PIL by a law student Abdul Hamid Rather against the Union Territory of J&K through its Social Welfare Department.
Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal heard the PIL seeking to quash Clause 3(b) of Annexure ‘A’ to Government order No.49-JK(SWD) of 2022, dated March 22, 2022, issued by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.
The clause imposes an eligibility requirement of passing at least 8th standard for poor girls to avail the benefit under SMAS.
At the outset, the petitioner, appeared in person and submitted that prior to institution of the petition, he had submitted numerous representations to the respondents as regards his concerns and grievances, “but to no avail”.
Served with an advance copy of the petition, A R Malik, senior additional advocate general (AAG) was present in the court on behalf of the respondents.
He submitted “the competent authority is already seized of the representation submitted by the petitioner, it would rather be expedient if the petition is disposed of at this stage to enable the respondents to examine and deal with the concerns and grievances of the petitioner and take necessary measures in accordance with law”.
That being so, the petitioner law student submitted that his writ petition be disposed of in terms of the statement made by the counsel for the respondent authorities.
However, he urged that the respondents be directed to take a decision in this regard within a specified time.
As to this, A R Malik, the AAG, said that the matter shall be examined in the right earnest by the authorities and appropriate orders in this regard shall be passed within a period of two months.
In the wake of the above, the writ petition was disposed of in terms of the statements made by the counsels for the parties.
