The High Court on Monday directed the government to ascertain if a local officer would be available to assist the court as exper” in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to streamline traffic in the summer capital.
Observing that important issues relating to traffic in Srinagar and other areas have been raised in the petition, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Alok Aradhe held that it would be appropriate to have the traffic expert who would be able to shed light on the issues raised.
After advocate general D C Raina informed the court that a former government official, Anuj Malhotra is rendering service on the issue relating to traffic in Srinagar, the court asked the government to ascertain if Malhotra is available to assist the court.
The court observed that the petition filed in the PIL in 2003 has raised several questions of significance with regard to traffic in Kashmir province.
Underscoring that many directions have been passed in the matter, the bench said it was of the view that a compilation of the effective directions passed as well as well as tabulation of the orders against action taken reports deserves to be prepared before further steps are taken.
The court asked Ateeb Kanth who is assisting it as amicus curie and government advocate Hakim Aman Ali to jointly prepare the tabulation and place it before it to ensure that all directions have been complied with.
“The same shall be filed within a week and given to all counsels appearing in the matter,” court said.
Pertinently, the registry of the High Court has already prepared two volumes of the court orders consisting of hundreds of pages.
In June last year, the court had constituted a four-member panel to chalk out an action plan for decongestion of traffic in Srinagar and asked the senior superintendent of police (traffic) to submit at least 10 suggestions for streamlining traffic in the city.
The committee comprising divisional commissioner Kashmir, transport commissioner, vice-chairman Srinagar Development Authority and commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation was directed to draw the action plan.
The panel was also directed to meet once a month and also call other stakeholders for effective implementation of the plans.