The High Court on Tuesday directed the Government to inform it about the status of funds the Finance Department has allotted to Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to build bridges in Kashmir.
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division benchof Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Rashid Ali Dar sought to know about the statusof funds by 24 August, the next date of hearing.
The direction came after Senior Additional Advocate General,Javed Iqbal, sought time to inform the court about the status of funds theJKPCC has received from the Finance Department.
In March this year, the state counsel representing JKPCC hadtold the court that despite requests that there was imperative need of funds,the same had not been released by the Finance Department.
The court was informed that the procrastination in releasingthe funds had caused an unwarranted delay of the completion of the projects.
The court asked the JKPCC to ensure that copy of theaffidavit is furnished to the senior AAG during the course of the day.
Meanwhile, the court sought status report regardingconstruction of fly-overs in keeping with the direction it has issued on lastdate of hearing.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed bySamajSudhar committee of TangchatriKangan in 2011 through advocate ArshadAndrabi, seeking construction of bridges over Sindh Nallah atTangchatriAkhalKangan.
The non release of funds by the Finance Department to JKPCCfor construction of these bridges has caused a delay in completing theseprojects.