The High Court on Tuesday sought details from the State Government about measures taken to rehabilitate the pellet-blinded and other visually impaired persons.
A division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and JusticeRashid Ali Dar directed State’s senior additional Advocate General BA Dar toplace before it the details within two days facilities available within forempowering visually impaired persons and those which have been blinded and havesuffered injuries by use of pellet guns.
The Court issued the direction while hearing a PublicInterest Litigation by J&K High Court Bar Association Kashmir.
The direction came a day after Supreme Court directed theHigh Court to decide the plea within six weeks on various reliefs includingrehabilitation, treatment and compensation to the pellet victims.
On behalf of the Bar, advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom brought tothe notice of the Court the prayers sought in the petition and the sufferingsof pellet victims.
“Since 2010 when the Pellet guns were introduced for crowdcontrol in Kashmir, a large number of people have received grievous bodilyinjuries and hundreds have been blinded,” Qayoom said.
He submitted that after the State High Court on 21 September2016 declined to ban the pellet guns, the Government had told the Court that acommittee has been formed to look for an alternative to the guns.
The panel report, he said, has not been submitted till date.
The bench observed it “very unfortunate” that State doesn’thave mechanism to “empower the blind”.
“It is necessary to expand the consideration of the PIL sothat not only pellet-blinded victims but also other visually impaired personsfind a sense of complete confidence when provided with rehabilitation and otherallied facilities,” the bench said.
The Court arrayed the State through secretaries departmentof Health and Medical Education department and Social Welfare Department, asparty respondents in the PIL.
It listed the case for further consideration for today (July24).