The High Court has sought presence of five top officials in case they failed to comply with its directions in a Public Interest Litigation seeking to streamline traffic in summer capital Srinagar.
A division bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and Justice Sanjeev Kumar sought personal appearance of divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, IGP Traffic, Kashmir and SSP Traffic Srinagar if they failed to implement court order dated 12 September 2018.
The court observed that in its order of 12 September, 2018, the court has directed the concerned authorities to file compliance with respect to the issues detailed in the PIL. “We need not reiterate the said issues any further,”
“Let compliance be filed by the respondents within a period of two weeks, failing which the officers shall remain present in person before the Court on the next date of hearing”.
On September 12 last year, the high court had issued as many as 10 directions regarding establishing CNG outlets, removing encroachment on pavements in Srinagar, shifting taxi stands, mini bus stands and auto stands from Batamaloo; finding solution to roadside parking problem; addressing issues with regard to traffic congestion on cross roads; removing vendors who cause difficulty to free flow of the vehicular movement as well as the foot movement of the pedestrians at Pantha chowk Bus Stand; ensuing facilities at the Parimpora Bus Stand and removing vendors there; proper management of traffic lights and taking strict action against those indulging in honking of horns unnecessarily in city.
Moreover, the court had directed that vehicles carrying building material should be properly covered with canopy to avoid air pollution as per circular issued by the office of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.
The court was today informed that despite its directions passed from time to time, different vehicles – Sumos, maxi cabs, mini buses- are parked on the roadside at the Batamaloo Bus Stand.
The court directed divisional commissioner, Kashmir, to ensure implementation of the directions the court issued Court from time to time to put a restraint on parking of any vehicle in and outside the Batamaloo Bus Stand. The court in this regard sought compliance by March 19, the next date of hearing.