The High Court has directed the government to inform it about the number of destitute girls who deserve to be compensated under State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS).
A division bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed the Social Welfare Department to furnish the data after conducting a renewed survey of these poor girls. The bench also asked State Legal Service Authority (SLSA) to furnish the details.
The court ordered the Director Social Welfare Department and the Member Secretary legal services authority to remain present before it on next date of hearing in case they failed to file the report.
Since 2012 when a petition by one Muhammad Amin Beigh, who was booked under Public Safety Act for exploiting innocent poor girls was dismissed, the court has been passing directions to the government to provide assistance to the poor girls.
In the wake of High Court directions, the government launched two schemes – State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) and HUNAR scheme – for poor and destitute girls of the state.
Though a number of girls benefited from SMAS, a host of such girls remain yet to be benefited. Under SMAS, the eligible girl would receive one-time financial assistance of Rs 25000 and cost of 5 gms of gold.
In August last year, the court had observed that it was important to know and assess the effective directions issued from time to time by the court and their implementation with regard to implementation of SMAS and HUNAR scheme.
The court had said that in order to assess the strength of the compliance vis-a-vis the directions passed by court from time to time, a compilation was required.
As per reports over 25000 girls in Kashmir province have approached the state government during the past three years to seek financial help under the state marriage assistance scheme.
SMAS is meant for unmarried girls of the state living below the poverty line who may not find themselves in a position to marry due to financial constraints.