The state human rights commission (SHRC) Wednesday asked the government to submit a detailed report on a petition alleging violation of human rights of Kashmir-bound passengers stranded in the winter capital Jammu.
The petition was filed before the commission’s Jammu office on Tuesday, over plight of stranded passengers in Jammu due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway for seven days owing to snowfall. The petition alleged that the authorities have failed to restore the road.
An official of SHRC’s Jammu office confirmed to Greater Kashmir that the commission has taken cognizance of the issue.
“The commission issued notice to the chief secretary and the divisional commissioner Jammu asking them to file detailed report on next date scheduled on March 1,” said an official.
Pertinently, the plea was filed following the closure of the highway which has left thousands of people from Kashmir and other places stranded in Jammu.
The plea mentions “for more than 70 years the central government has failed to make Srinagar Jammu highway an all weather road”.
The petition while mentioning the plight of stranded people, says that a large number of such people had to sleep in taxis and other vehicles “which is violation of basic human rights” as the hotels in Jammu charged “exorbitantly.”
The petition mentions that “some stranded passengers (had to) sold their valuables like cell phones, watches or gold rings to meet their expenses”.
It also refers to steep hike in airfares following highway closure, and sought explanation from the government in this regard.
The plea also stated that the stranded passengers in Jammu must be airlifted on priority and “this should be done free of cost or on subsidized rates”.
The petition also demands arrangement of food and blankets for the stranded passengers, and urges the government “to issue a circular to hotel/restaurant owners to give a special discount to the stranded passengers”.